Movement over quota system: 197 people have been killed so far

Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was one of the coordinators of the quota reform movement. He was the first when the procession of students reached the intersection of the park in front of the university. Last Tuesday (July 16) at one point when the police started firing rubber bullets, Saeed stood with both arms outstretched.

This movement on the quota system was the second round of movement. The main movement started from January 2018. The movement was stopped when the matter reached the court. Later, after a court verdict, the second round of agitation started from last June. Then it gradually turns violent. In this situation, the government stopped all internet connections on July 17. As a result, online media is closed. Everything that has happened since the beginning of the movement is presented for the readers.

A writ has been filed on behalf of a student and two journalists of Dhaka University seeking revaluation of quota system in government jobs. Lawyer Akhlas Uddin, filing the writ, said an executive order in 1972 introduced quotas for 30 per cent freedom fighters and 10 per cent women victims on the basis of district and population in government, private, defence, semi-government and nationalized institutions. Later the quota was reformed and changed at various times. Currently 56 percent of the total quota exists. As a result, those who do not fall under any quota have to compete for the remaining 44 percent.

The two parties held a counter program in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in favor of reforming the existing quota system in government jobs. Hundreds of job seekers protested under the banner of 'Bangladesh General Student Conservation Council' demanding quota reforms. And in the name of the reform proposal, the leaders and workers of Muktijoddha Sangsad Ischan command made a human chain in protest of the 'conspiracy against Muktijoddha quota'. But the police did not allow anyone to stand there.

In the evening, a 71-member committee was formed in the university's basement to continue the movement.

In continuation of the movement of job seekers and general students of the university against the existing quota system in government jobs, the human bond program was celebrated on February 17 and 25. After the human chain program on March 4, the agitators gave the government a deadline of March 13 to reform the quota. The five-point demands of the agitators include reforming the quota system from 56 percent to 10 percent, recruiting on merit in the vacant posts if qualified candidates are not found in the quota, no special recruitment test in the quota, fixing the same age limit for all in government jobs and recruiting jobs. In the examQuota-facility not to be used more than once.As a central program on this day, thousands of students and job aspirants marched in front of the Dhaka University Central Library at 2 pm and reached Shahbag Mor at 3 pm. The agitators announced that they will continue the blockade until the announcement comes from the session of the National Assembly. At 7:45 PM suddenly 15-20 platoons of Riot Police from Shishu Park started towards Shahbag Mor firing tear gas. They started beating the agitators. The agitators were dispersed and divided into two parts due to the sudden attack of the police.

Since then violence started around the movement. Chhatra League repeatedly attacked the leaders of the Bangladesh General Student Protection Council. At one stage of the movement, the Prime Minister announced the abolition of quota in the National Parliament in June 2018. And the government issued a circular on October 4. Then in 2021, some children of freedom fighters filed a writ seeking cancellation of this circular. The High Court ruled on 6 December 2021 regarding the preliminary hearing of the writ. The ruling asked why the circular should not be declared without legal authority.

Application of two students seeking suspension of High Court verdict. The hearing will be held the next day. However, the anti-discrimination student movement claims that the anti-quota activists have nothing to do with the application of those two students.

As part of the movement, students and job seekers lifted the blockade after 4 hours. The protestors announced a blockade program called 'Bangla Blockade' in the morning and evening across the country.

Appellate Division directs parties to maintain status quo for four weeks regarding quota in direct recruitment (9th to 13th grade) to government jobs. A five-member Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order. August 7 is fixed for hearing.

At one stage of the hearing, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan said, 'We are people of this society, we have to say something. That is a judgment passed in the High Court. Students are protesting. What they have done there is not worth appreciating. It seems that they have misunderstood. Whatever they did, they are our sons and daughters.'

The Chief Justice also said, "I said on the first day, slogans on the streets do not change the verdict." It's not today, when I was at the International Criminal Tribunal, I said in a case, you can't change a verdict by chanting on the street. This is not the right move.'

On the other hand, the agitating students and job aspirants demanded reform of quota in all government jobs. They think that it is a matter of government's decision.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that the anti-quota activists are showing their strength against the Supreme Court. This is unintended and completely illegal. Obaidul Quader said these words in a press conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi.

In a press conference at the Secretariat, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the students are "crossing the limit".

On this day, the protestors held a blockade in different parts of the country in the face of police obstruction.

The students protested in different university and college campuses of the country even on the holiday on Friday to demand quota reform. After the march at Dhaka University, students blockaded Shahbag Mor. Rajshahi University students blocked the railway tracks.

Announced program to submit memorandum to President demanding rational reform of quota in all grades. The protestors will present this memorandum to the President by holding a public procession on the next day.

State Minister for Information Mohammad A. Arafat said the government has nothing to do about the pending matter.

In a press conference held at Ganabhaban, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "I have nothing to do about quota." It must be resolved in the courtIn response to another question, Sheikh Hasina said, "The grandchildren of the freedom fighters will not get jobs, so will the grandchildren of Razakar get jobs?"

Referring to the 2018 agitation, the Prime Minister said that at that time he had canceled the quota out of frustration. The objective was to see what happens if the quota is abolished. Meanwhile, women were left out of BCS, none of 23 districts got police jobs.

On the same day, through a padayatra programme, the agitators called an emergency session of the National Assembly with a memorandum to the President and gave the government 24 hours to demand a rational reform of quota in all grades of government jobs.

Later at midnight, students protested at the Dhaka University campus claiming that the agitators demanding reform of quota system in government jobs were insulted. Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked Chattogram University when students started protesting. The procession was held at Jahangirnagar and Jagannath University.

After protesting in various residential halls of Dhaka University from 10 pm, students gathered at TSC's Raju sculpture at midnight. Jamaat-e-Islami students chanted various slogans including 'I wanted rights, I became Razakar'.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said that Chhatra League will respond to the slogans of the agitators demanding quota reform at 2 pm in a press conference organized at the political office of the Awami League president in Dhaka Dhanmondi. He said, self-confessed arrogance and arrogant mentality or behavior has been revealed from the movement. Chhatra League is ready to answer this.

Later in the afternoon, Saddam Hussein, the central president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, said that those who are chanting 'Ami Razakar' slogans in the quota reform movement will be dismissed.

Clashes broke out between Bangladesh Chhatra League and agitators at Dhaka University at 3 pm. At this time the protesters were beaten. Shooting is also seen. There were attacks in different parts of the country. 297 injured received treatment at Dhaka Medical.

An announcement to hold a rally by both the agitators and the Chhatra League to protest the attack.

Massive protests and clashes throughout the country throughout the day. Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League government supporters attacked the protesters. Six people were killed. Rangpur agitator Begum Rokeya University student Abu Saeed killed in police bullet release.

In the afternoon, Central President of Chhatra League Saddam Hussein said, "The movement will go, the movement will come." But Chhatra League will remain. Everything will be remembered and answered. Not a single incident will go unanswered. If we fall into the trap of Rajakars and try to divert the issue-based movement to different sectors, we will see in the future how much rice is produced by how much paddy.

New program of agitating students. In memory of the deceased, they will hold funeral procession and coffin procession on Wednesday.

Chhatra League leaders and workers were expelled from various universities of the country, including Dhaka University, and declared 'political'.

During the holidays, student protests, road-highway blockades, funeral processions, coffin processions and sporadic clashes and chases occurred in various parts of the country, including Dhaka. The students' coffin procession at Dhaka University came to a standstill in the face of police firing tear gas shells and sound grenades. At this time, there were repeated chases and clashes between the students and the police. Many students left the campus by evening in the face of the university administration's announcement of closure of halls and police action. However, many students were staying in the hall and campus even at night, rejecting the decision to close the hall.

Prime Minister's Address to the Nation at 8:30 p.m. A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the death of six people. At the same time, he urged the agitators to be patient until the verdict of the Supreme Court.

In a speech of about eight minutes, the Prime Minister said, "I believe that our students will get justice from the High Court, they should not be disappointed."

Nationwide protests, violence, clashes and shootings. A total of 27 people were killed. The whole country, including Dhaka, was almost paralyzed by the all-out blockade program by the agitating students. Apart from Dhaka, 47 districts of the country saw protests, blockades, counter-charges, police attacks and clashes throughout the day. At least 1,50,000 were injured in these incidents. In some places, there was a clash between the protesters and the members of law enforcement forces, and in some places, the leaders and workers of various pro-government organizations clashed.

These incidents of clashes took place when the students came to the streets in groups demanding "peaceful movement of students against brutal attacks by police, BGB, RAB and SWAT, protesting murders, trial of murderers, ensuring terror-free campuses and logical reform of quota system".

BGB deployment across the country.

Massive clashes, attacks, vandalism, shootings, arson and loss of life occurred in Dhaka around the 'Complete Shutdown' or total blockade program of protesting students demanding quota reform. The capital Dhaka was virtually immobile, the situation at a standstill. Widespread protests, clashes and violence also took place in various districts of the country.

At least 44 people were killed in shootings and clashes in different areas of Dhaka that day. And the death toll across the country was 56. Several hundreds including students, political party leaders and workers, police, journalists, pedestrians were injured. Only students were in this movement from the beginning. However, local people were also seen participating in different areas of the capital yesterday.

The agitators said that the 'shutdown' will continue until the 9-point demand is met.

103 people were killed across the country in the last three days around the total blockade program. Of these, 6 people were killed on Tuesday, 41 on Thursday and 56 on Friday.

At night curfew was imposed across the country, army was deployed. Internet service is completely stopped.

Curfew, army deployment across the country. Declaration of general holidays. Clashes, chases and shootings at various places in Dhaka. Notable places are Jatrabari, Uttara, Badda and Mirpur. Apart from this, clashes took place in Mohammadpur. 26 killed in clashes on Saturday. In total, 148 were killed in four days. Of these, 6 on Tuesday, 41 on Thursday, 75 on Friday and 26 on Saturday.

The Home Minister said that the curfew will continue till the situation becomes normal. One of the coordinators of the 'anti-discrimination student movement', Nahid Islam, has been accused of being removed.

Three coordinators of the movement met with three ministers and presented eight-point demands.

Heavy damage at Kazipara and Mirpur-10 metro stations. Last Friday, 113 vehicles were burnt to ashes in three government buildings.

The judgment of the highest court of the country has been completely nullified (cancelled and annulled) the judgment of the High Court regarding the reinstatement of quota in the recruitment of government jobs. According to the judgment, 93 percent of the quota system is based on merit; 5 percent for children of freedom fighters, martyred freedom fighters and heroes; 1 percent for ethnic minorities and 1 percent for disabled and third gender. However, if the eligible candidates are not found in the prescribed quota, the vacant posts of the respective quota must be filled from the general merit list. In the light of this directive, the Appellate Division directed the executive department of the government to issue a notification immediately.

The full bench of the seven-member Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the verdict unanimously. The judgment said, despite these instructions and orders, the government can cancel, amend or reform the fixed quota if necessary and on overall consideration.

Meanwhile, the death toll has increased to 178 in five days. The death toll is rising as some of the injured die and earlier deaths are confirmed. Among them, 6 people were killed on Tuesday, 41 people on Thursday, 75 people on Friday, 26 people on Saturday and 19 people on Sunday.

Movement coordinator Nahid was picked up and tortured. Hospitalized.

The coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement set a deadline of 48 hours to fulfill the four-point demand. The four-point demand includes, opening of internet connection, opening of halls to accommodate students, ensuring security of movement coordinators and lifting of curfew. Four coordinators held a press conference in this regard.

On the same day, a short message titled 'Joint Statement of 56 Coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' was sent to the mobile phones of the media persons. The joint statement called for further strengthening of the 'Complete Shutdown' programme. It is said that the government cannot avoid the responsibility of killing only through the court verdict. It was alleged in the statement that the government is continuing to torture ordinary students in the wake of the quota reform movement. The statement alleged that "more than three hundred" students were killed.

Apart from this, the statement said, some of the front-line coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement were taken into police custody and tried to extract fabricated statements and failed. Coordinator Nahid Islam was severely tortured. Apart from this, the search of coordinator Asif Mahmud, Abu Bakr Majumdar and others has been demanded.

The Prime Minister has approved the notification made as per the order of the court by reforming the quota system.

Another 13 people were found dead in the clashes. Five of them died on Monday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Three people died last Saturday in Narayanganj, whose bodies were recovered on Monday. And Dhaka's Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital) reported on Monday that four bodies were taken last Friday. Apart from this, the death of a policeman is known today. In all, a total of 187 deaths were reported in six days. Among them, 6 people were killed on Tuesday, 41 on Thursday, 79 on Friday, 36 on Saturday, 20 on Sunday and 5 on Monday.

Quota reform notification issued.

As of Tuesday, 197 people have been reported killed in clashes in various districts including Dhaka. The death toll is based on sources from some hospitals, people who brought the bodies and relatives. Not all hospitals were imaged.

Chattogram University student Hridoy Chandra Boruya (22) died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital last Tuesday. He was shot dead in Chattogram last Thursday.

Eight more deaths were reported on Tuesday. Of these, five died at Dhaka's Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital and two at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital. Savar Enam Medical College found another dead person.

According to the information received so far, 6 died on July 16 (Tuesday), 41 on Thursday, 84 on Friday, 38 on Saturday, 21 on Sunday, 5 on Monday and two on Tuesday. It should be noted that the death of last Monday and Tuesday took place under treatment.

Source: Prothom Alo