The Adivasi Quota Protection Committee students have blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway, again, protesting and demanding the restoration of the 5% quota reserved for ethnic minorities in the first and second-class government jobs.
They gathered on the highway near the main gate of Rajshahi University (RU) at 10am on Sunday, blocking traffic on both sides of the road. that the organizers said the protest would continue until 3pm.
They were chanting slogans such as, "Bangabandhu'r Banglay, adivasi quota chai," which can be translated to, "We need the indigenous quota in Bangabandhu's Bangladesh ," and, "Digital Banglay, adivasi quota chai," which translates to, "We need the indigenous quota in Digital Bangladesh."
Meanwhile, the Rajshahi University Adivasi Quota Protection Committee President Ruhul Amin Kisku told the Dhaka Tribune: "The ethnic minorities have fallen behind as an ethnic community. Our situation is fragile—in terms of education and the economy.
"We seem to have lost the opportunity to change our circumstances now. The government needs to develop the living standards of the ethnic minorities in order to implement the vision of Digital Bangladesh."
He said if indigenous peoples are not given a chance, then they will always remain a backward community.
Indigenous students have participated in a series of blockade programs after news of the quota cancellation got out.
