Muktijuddho Moncho has announced a blockade for an indefinite period all over the country until their demands over reinstating freedom fighter quota for the first and second class jobs in government jobs are met.
“We have announced blockade for an indefinite period in roads and waterways from 5pm today. We will not leave the streets until our demands are met,” Moncho spokesperson Prof AKM Jamal Uddin said in a rally in Shahbagh on Saturday.
The newly formed platform to protest the abolishing of quota system also demanded the resignation of Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam.
He urged the government to cancel the circular on scrapping quota system in the next cabinet meeting which is scheduled to be held on Monday.
Freedom fighter Kamal Hossain, who came from Chittagong to attend the rally, echoed Jamal over scrapping the circular.
"The government's quota review committee led by Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam has misguided the Prime Minister intentionally. She asked us to protest if we want our quota back. But the county will be paralysed if we take to the streets,” he said.
“So withdraw this illegal circular immediately," Kamal said.
Chattogram Muktijoddha Parishad President Pavel said: "Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir agents staged protests in the name of quota reforms. They were trying to destabilize the country.”
Children and grandchildren of freedom fighters across the country joined the rally at the Shahbagh intersection that began around 3pm.
Meanwhile, Moncho, the platform of the protesters, resumed its blockade after 12 hours. The protest program was relaxed for the convocation of the Dhaka University.
The protesters that also included around 1,000 descendants of freedom fighters were gathered in Shahbagh braving rain since 2.30pm.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Parishad took out a procession at the Shahbagh intersection demanding an extension of the age limit for government jobs to 35 years.
The cabinet approved the proposal to abolish quota system on Wednesday. Several hours later, beneficiaries of the freedom fighter quota protested the decision, by blockading the Shahbagh intersection.
The government issued the circular on Thursday.
