Quota protesters to announce next move Saturday

Public Service Commission.

Dhaka, July 12: The anti-quota protesters will announce the next programme in their movement on Saturday afternoon.

Abu Baker Majumdar, one of the key organisers of the protests, said that all the coordinators of the movement from campuses across the country will consult using both online and offline platforms and come to a decision with regards to their next move.

“Then we will disclose it tomorrow (Saturday) at 6pm in front of the DU Central Library,” Majumdar said

Earlier, the students of Dhaka University held a protest rally and blocked the Shahbagh crossing, in response to yesterday's police action on students in several locations outside Dhaka, demanding justice.

As per the previously announced schedule, the students of Dhaka University came together in front of the central library around 4pm and brought out a protest rally, which later marched towards Shahbagh and blocked the crossing unannounced.

Later around 4.30pm, the students of Dhaka College came to Shahbagh in procession and joined the students of Dhaka University

From there, they chanted slogans seeking justice for the police attack.

The demonstration broke up around 6.20pm, with Majumdar announcing tomorrow's program before leaving Shahbagh.

The quota system, which reserved 56 percent of positions in government jobs for various quotas, was abolished in 2018. This decision was challenged in 2021 by descendants of freedom fighters, leading to a High Court ruling on June 5, 2024, declaring the abolition of the freedom fighters’ quota, which ran to 30 percent, illegal.

The government subsequently moved the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division to suspend the High Court order. The AD on Thursday issued an order to maintain the status quo for a month on the High Court's judgment to reinstate the freedom fighter quota system for first and second-class government jobs.

Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman has called on all stakeholders in the quota reform or restore debate to respect the order of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, that on Thursday issued a one-month status quo on the quota system in government jobs.

It effectively means no systemic change can be brought to whatever is prevailing at the moment with regards to recruitment in government jobs, in the next one month. That can be used by the different stakeholders to identify compromise positions.

The DMP commissioner emphasised everyone should have confidence in and respect for the court order.

Habibur made the remarks at the opening ceremony of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association's (CRAB) annual sports competition at Segunbagicha on Friday.

"There is an obligation on every citizen to comply with court orders. So, everyone should follow and respect the court order," he said.

Besides, any attempts to disrupt law and order would not be tolerated, the DMP chief warned.

Addressing the reporters, the DMP Commissioner said apart from professional duties, CRAB conducts various activities including sports competitions. Extending thanks to the crime reporters, he also said journalists often help the police to ensure justice by doing investigative reports.

Joining the program virtually, Social Welfare Minister Dr Dipu Moni said there is no alternative to investigative journalism. Journalists were always aware of the truth. They always brought out the truth fighting against misinformation at home and abroad, she added.

Conducted by Rakibul Islam Manik, sports and cultural secretary of CRAB, President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Sukkur Ali Shubo, Finance Secretary of Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union and former presidents of CRAB Khairuzzaman Kamal, senior journalist Parvez Khan, Abul Khair, Mirza Mehdi Tamal, Isharaf Hossain Isa also spoke at the event.

FM Iqbal Bin Anwar (Don), senior executive director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC and Md Rabiul Islam Milton, senior deputy executive director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC were present as special guests. - UNB