Rajshahi University (RU) officials and employees continued their strike for the second consecutive day on Thursday, demanding the restoration of the pet quota for admissions.
The strike began at 10am in front of the Syed Nazrul Islam Administration Building, with participants warning that if their demands are not met, they will escalate the protest by suspending emergency services such as examinations and transportation.
Speakers at the demonstration said that they are opposed to all unreasonable quotas but consider the pet quota an institutional right for their children, rather than a privilege.
They highlighted that similar benefits exist in other universities and demanded its reinstatement at RU.
Riyazuddin, office secretary of the Rajshahi University Officers' Association, said: “Our week’s program concludes with today’s full-day strike. Leaders will meet Sunday to discuss and announce the next phase of protests.”
During the strike, many university facilities, including offices, the administration building, and halls, were effectively non-operational.
The examination controller's office remained closed, causing inconvenience to students seeking urgent certificates and mark sheets.
This latest strike follows a decision made on January 1, in response to student protests, to cancel the pet quota for children of RU faculty members and staff while retaining a 1% quota for children of assistant and general employees.
The move initially appeased students, who had protested and locked down the university’s administration building, but angered staff members who view the quota as a rightful benefit.
Since then, employees have organized human chains, sit-ins, and strikes, severely disrupting the university’s administrative operations.
Only essential services — electricity, water, medical, transport, and security — are currently functioning.