Quota reform activists will begin indefinite strikes on Monday in all universities and colleges across the country as the government has not met their deadline for publishing a gazette on the reform by 5pm Sunday.
“As the government has failed to publish the gazette notification on quota reform, we will begin indefinite strikes from tomorrow [Monday] at all educational institutions in Bangladesh,” Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad Joint Convener Nurul Haque Nur told the Dhaka Tribune Sunday evening.
The students also observed a two-hour strike from 11am to 1pm in colleges and universities across the country on Sunday.
Hasan Al Mamun, the convener of the movement, earlier had announced that they would suspend all classes and examinations from Monday if the gazette was not published by 5pm.
The students brought out a procession from in front of Dhaka University’s (DU) Central Library, demanding immediate issuance of gazette notification abolishing quota system in government jobs as per the prime minister's announcement.
In the face of continued demonstrations, the prime minister on April 11 had announced that the government would take measures to scrap the quota system.
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On April 26, the protesters warned that they would resume the protest if a gazette notification was not published in April. Later, they gave the government time till May 7.
On April 8, thousands of students demonstrated in Shahbagh and DU areas to protest the current 56% quota reserved for selected groups for government jobs.
That evening, over 50 students were injured in violent clashes between the police, Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, and the demonstrators. Later, universities all across Bangladesh expressed solidarity by participating in the movement.
On that night, during clashes in Shahbagh and DU areas, a group of people attacked and vandalized the DU vice-chancellor’s residence.
The prime minister eventually announced the quota system would be scrapped.
At least five cases were later filed against unnamed persons at Shahbagh and Ramna police stations over the violence and attack on the vice-chancellor’s residence.
