Protesting students and job aspirants on Wednesday rejected the Appellate Division’s status quo order on quota in government jobs for four weeks.
Expressing their disappointment, the protesters declared their intention to remain on the streets until their demand is met.
Nahid Islam, coordinator of Bangla Blockade, said: "Our demand is directed at the executive branch, not the judiciary. While we appreciate the Appellate Division overturning the High Court order, the judiciary cannot resolve this issue. We urge the executive branch to amend the constitution and pass a bill to create a new quota system. Only this can resolve the situation."
Quota reinstatement: Supreme Court issues status quo on High Court’s verdictMeanwhile, students from various educational institutions blocked several roads and railways from the morning of the third day of the Bangla Blockade program.
In the morning, students blocked several important roads, including Shahbagh, Science Lab, Banglamotor, Farmgate, Agargaon, and Mohakhali in the capital.
Hasnat Abdullah, coordinator of Shahbagh unit of the movement, said: "The four-week order reflects a lack of political will. It is a tactic to suppress the ongoing movement across the country."
He added: "Don't make us enemies by involving the High Court in the conflict between us and the executive. We demand action from the executive branch. If the executive wants, it can abolish the discriminatory quota by forming a commission with all stakeholders."
Saying that the verdict seems like a way to shift responsibility to the High Court, Abdullah said: “Our demands are clear and not politically motivated. Please don't view us through a political lens."
Third day of Bangla Blockade: Students rally at Shahbagh for quota reformOn the other hand, the Appellate Division has insisted the students to return to classes.
At the same time, the students have been asked to submit their statement in written form to the court.
Abdul Hannan Masud, a coordinator of the anti-quota student movement said: “We do not accept any pending decision. Our one-point demand is to pass a law in parliament abolishing all discriminatory quotas while retaining a maximum 5% quota for backward communities in all grades of government jobs.”
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court issued that the status quo will remain on the High Court's verdict regarding the quota system in government jobs.
The five-member Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan, passed the order around 11:45am on Wednesday.
