With the government now agreeing to their primary demands, coordinators of demonstrators demanding quota reforms have announced the withdrawal of their protests in light of the overall situation in the country.
Coordinators Nahid Islam, Hasnat Abdullah, Asif Mahmud, Sarjis Alam, Nusrat Tabassum and Md Abu Bakar Mojumdar declared the end of the protests through a short video message late on Sunday, while in the custody of the Detective Branch of police.
"Many were unexpectedly injured and killed during the quota reform protests and the ensuing situations. Additionally, arson and various violent acts occurred at state establishments. We strongly condemn these unwanted incidents and call for a prompt and thorough investigation to bring justice,” the coordinators stated.
"Our main demand was a rational reform of the quota system, which the government has already met. We now strongly urge the government to reopen educational institutions promptly to ensure a conducive learning environment. In the interest of the public, we are withdrawing our program effective immediately."
Meanwhile, other coordinators and co-coordinators said they would continue the movement, claiming the withdrawal statement had been extracted under duress.
Coordinator Abdul Kader made the claim in a statement on their Telegram group.
Additionally, coordinators Abdul Hannan Masud and Mahin Sarkar, along with co-coordinators Rifat Rashid and Abdullah Salehin Ayan, rejected the withdrawal announcement in their statements.
Kader alleged that the coordinators, held captive, had been forced to issue the statement under torture.
"The detained coordinators merely read out the statement written by the intelligence agencies under duress, and we reject it. We strongly condemn and protest the government's heinous act of extracting statements by force."
"We unequivocally declare that our movement will continue until our nine-point demands, including the resignation of the home minister, are met. We urge the nation not to be misled. The movement will persist until justice is served for those killed over the quota issue,” he added.
