Anti-quota protest: Students withdraw from Shahbagh, announce blockade on Wednesday
On the second day of the pre-announced "Bangla Blockade" programme, university students across the country today (8 July) blocked highways, streets, and railways demanding the abolishment of all types of "irrational and discriminatory" quotas in all grades of government jobs.
The High Court on 5 June ordered the government to retain the 30% freedom fighter quota in government jobs.
It also declared illegal the circular issued on 4 October 2018 cancelling the quota system.
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Soon after the verdict, students announced their non-stop movement.
The quota system was introduced through an executive order in 1972 and was amended several times.
8:35pm
Protesting students have withdrawn blockade at Shahbagh intersection in the capital. The coordinators of the movement announced that they will conduct mass communication through online and offline media tomorrow, in preparation for a "total blockade" on Wednesday (10 July).
8:10pm
Protesting students have withdrawn blockade at different intersections of the capital and congregated at the Shahbagh intersection.
7:30pm
Some pedestrians say they support students' demands despite suffering due to blockade
Abdul Hai Rubel, a businessman, was taking his sick wife to LabAid Hospital from Mouchak.
Speaking to The Business Standard at Bangla Motor intersection, he said, "It is normal that there will be some suffering due to the movement. But the students are not behaving violently.
"This aim behind the movement is clear as day, quota should be cancelled for the sake of reducing discrimination. So there is no reason for not supporting the movement."
Shrabon Ahmed Akash, a rickshaw puller, said, "My income has halved today due to the students' movement. But the student brothers are not fighting only for themselves. If people get any benefit out of this movement, then the suffering doesn't seem like much trouble."
7:10pm
Jahangirnagar University (JU) students demonstrating against the quota system in government jobs have withdrawn their blockade from the Dhaka-Aricha highway after four hours.
Abdur Rashid Jitu, joint convener of JU wing of Student Movement Against Discrimination, announced that road blockade on the Dhaka-Aricha highway will continue again from 3pm tomorrow
6:45pm
'Quota system should be abolished even if we have to suffer due to protest'
As students of Jahangirnagar University blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway, traffic movement came to a standstill. However, despite the hardships, passengers stuck on the highway consider the students' movement logical.
Md Aktaruzzaman, who came to Dhaka from Khulna, was stuck on the highway since 3pm. Despite being a freedom fighter himself, he wants the abolition of the quota system in government jobs.
"My brother and I fought in the Liberation War. We went to the war to eliminate discrimination, not expecting any benefits. It is unacceptable that all people from a family will get a job due to quota despite being unqualified while meritorious people will remain unemployed even after studying for the whole year."
This freedom fighter also said, "If you give financial support to the freedom fighters, no one will say anything. But why give jobs to their grandchildren? It is completely absurd. The ongoing quota system is contrary to the goal with which we took up arms in the war. The movement of students is 100% logical. Even if we are suffering for the time being, this quota system should be cancelled."
6:30pm
Tomorrow's programme to be announced
When asked how long today's blockade will last, Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the movement and a student of Dhaka University's English department, told The Business Standard, "We are discussing when we will stop today's blockade and what will be the programme for tomorrow. We will announce it in due course."
6:00pm
Rifat Rashid, one of the coordinators of the movement, said the entrance of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway at Farmgate has been blocked by the protestors.
5:15pm
Protesters blocking all vehicles except ambulances
At Banglamotor intersection, Shourav Mondal, an undergraduate student of Dhaka University's Population Science Department, told The Business Standard, "We are not allowing any vehicles except ambulances and patient transport vehicles. However, if anyone explains to us about any important matter beyond that, we will consider it."
He also said, "This movement is not just for us. Rather, if the quota system is abolished, the people will actually get better service from meritorious people in the country's administration."
A man named Rizwan Hossain was taking his stroke-stricken grandmother from Square Hospital to Narayanganj.
"After taking my grandmother from the hospital, we got stuck at Kawran Bazar and Banglamotor intersections. But the protestors understood our situation and allowed us to go through."
4:30pm
Student processions broke the police barricades and blocked Shahbagh, Intercontinental, Banglamotor, Kawran Bazar, Farmgate, Paribag, Hare Road, and Minto Road intersections.
Also, students Jagannath University, seven affiliated colleges of DU, and other institutions blocked Science Lab, New Market and other important intersections including Nilkhet, Paltan, Gulistan.
4:15pm
Students of Cumilla University, Cumilla Victoria Government College and National University affiliated colleges, as well as various private universities of the district blocked the Kotbari Bishwaroad area of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
4:15pm
Students from Dhaka University, Dhaka College and blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital.
4:09pm
Students from Dhaka University's Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall and Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall blocked Paltan intersection.
4:00pm
Students from Kushtia University blocked the Kushtia-Khulna highway. The protesting students announced that their programme will continue until the demands are met.
4:00pm
Rajshahi University (RU) students demonstrating against the quota system in government jobs withdrawn their blockade from the rail tracks near the university's Faculty of Agriculture after four hours.
The students blocked the rail tracks at around 12:00pm, disrupting rail communication between Rajshahi and other parts of the country.
3:00pm
Students from Barishal University blocked the Barishal-Kuakata Highway at around 12:00pm. The blockade was withdrawn at 3:00pm.
3:00pm
Students from Jahangirnagar University (JU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway. At 2pm, protesting students began to gather in front of the university library, and by 2:30pm, they started a protest march in front of the library. The blockade started at 3pm.
