As part of the “Bangla Blockade” program demanding quota reforms, students of Comilla University blocked the Comilla section of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway on Sunday afternoon.
The protest began at the university campus and escalated when it reached the Kotbari Bishwaroad area of the highway, resulting in severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway.
Students were chanting various slogans, including "There is no place for discrimination in my Sonal Bangla,” "No place for discrimination in Sheikh Hasina's Bangladesh," "The student community has awakened," "Let the spirit of '18 roar once more" and "Why attack merit with an axe in the name of quota."
Education minister questions possible conspiracy behind anti-quota protestsComilla University students Sajib Mia, Ahmed Mukul, Raihan Ahmed and Imtiaz Ahmed said the students were holding protests to reinstate a 2018 circular cancelling quotas in government jobs.
They added that their sole demand was the abolition of the quota system.
Some students were seen sitting and lying on the road.
Besides Comilla University, students from Comilla Victoria Government College, other colleges affiliated with National University, various private universities and medical colleges in the district were also demonstrating against quotas as part of the nationwide “Bangla Blockade” program.
Our Comilla correspondent, Mahasin Kabir, contributed to this report
