Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for the eighth day of their demonstration demanding the reformation of the quota system in government jobs and restoration of the 2018 circular.
They staged the blockade program to meet their one-point demand.
Dhaka roads turn empty due to anti-quota movementThe one-point demand of the students is to abolish all kinds of unreasonable and discriminatory quotas in all grades, bring the quotas to the minimum level for the backward groups mentioned in the constitution, and amend the quota system by passing a law in the parliament.
Hundreds of students gathered in front of the university's central library at 3pm on Monday.
Later, the students took out a procession to the main gate adjacent to the Dairy Gate via the Shaheed Minar of the university.
Earlier, Along with the protest and blockade program, students of 34 departments and three institutes of the university also boycotted their classes and examinations.
They said they will not return to class until their demands are met.
RU students block railway to demand quota reformAccording to the pre-announced time of the Bangla Blockade program, important points and highways were to be blocked simultaneously from 3pm to 7pm across the country.
Abdullah bin Ahmed, a student of the 49th batch of Botany Department of the university, said: "The quota system cannot have any compatibility with the spirit of freedom or liberation war. The objective of liberation war is never quota benefits. For the overall development of the country, there is no alternative without evaluating merit. Abolish the quota system and give opportunity to talent, only talent can take the country to development."
Meanwhile, the blockade created a long traffic jam from Gabtoli to Nabinagar.
Anti-quota movement: ‘Bangla Blockade’ to continue on MondayNoman, a passenger traveling to Dhaka, said: "We are suffering a lot due to the blockade in this intense heat. But this is the movement of common students all over Bangladesh, it is for the good of all. So we accept this suffering."
However, students were seen leaving the ambulance carrying patients on the opposite side of the road.
Mahfuzul Islam Megh, member secretary of the anti-discrimination student movement said: "We have blocked the highway with our one-point demand. Our demand is the demand of lakhs of job aspirants across the country. We will continue the program until the demands are met.'
"Today we will block the highway for a long time. An emergency lane has been set up in coordination with the highway police for ambulances and emergency services to ease the suffering of people." he added.
Quader meets ministers to address growing anti-quota protestsJU anti-discrimination student movement joint convener Abdur Rashid Jitu said: "Government is trying to establish a smart Bangladesh and the most important thing for creating a smart Bangladesh is the talent which cannot be ensured through the system of discriminatory quota. The movement will not stop until the realization of their rights and the abolition of discriminatory quota."
The protesting students also called college and university students nationwide to participate.
