Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for the fourth consecutive day under the "Bangla blockade" program, demanding the reformation of the quota system in government jobs.
They warned that if the demand is not met, the entire country will be immobilised.
Under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the students initiated a protest rally outside the central library around 10:45am on Wednesday.
Quota reinstatement: Supreme Court issues status quo on High Court’s verdictLater, hundreds of students gathered in front of the university's main gate to join the movement.
During the protest, students were seen chanting various slogans.
The one-point demand of the students is to abolish all kinds of unreasonable and discriminatory quotas in all grades, to bring the quotas to the minimum level for the backward groups mentioned in the constitution, and to amend the quota system by passing a law in the parliament.
Bangla Blockade: Traffic halted as protesters block Science LabMeanwhile, a long traffic jam was created from Savar to Nabinagar, causing common passengers to suffer. After waiting for a long time, passengers got off the buses and started walking. However, students were seen allowing the ambulance to carry patients on the opposite side of the road.
JU Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Convener Arif Sohel said: “We never wanted to cancel the quota, but to reform it. Quotas can be kept (maximum 5%) for only the children of freedom fighters, backward groups mentioned in the constitution, disabled persons, etc., and the quota system can be amended by passing a law in parliament.”
Third day of Bangla Blockade: Students rally at Shahbagh for quota reformJU Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Joint Convener Tauhid Siam said: "Our movement is the movement of common students all over the country. We will continue our agitation until our demands are met."
Earlier, on Tuesday, the protesting students conducted different campaigns in online and residential halls to strengthen the anti-quota movement. Along with the protest and blockade program, students of different departments and institutes of the university also boycotted classes and examinations. They said they would not return to class until their demands were met.
