‘Publish gazette by Thursday or face tougher movement’

Quota reformists today threatened to wage tougher movement from Sunday if the government does not publish the gazette notification by tomorrow abolishing the quota system in public service.

Nurul Huq, a joint convener of Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, made the announcement at a student gathering at the foot of Raju Memorial Sculpture on Dhaka University campus around noon.

Earlier in the day, some 1,000 students brought out a procession from in front of Dhaka University Central Library and ended at Raju Memorial Sculpture after parading around the Institute of Fine Arts.

As part of their yesterday’s declaration to form human chains at all universities and colleges demanding swift publication of the gazette, around 1,200 to 1,300 DU students formed a human chain stretching from the TSC area to the VC’s residence, our campus correspondent reports.

Dhaka University students form a human chain on the campus demanding swift publication of the gazette notification scrapping quota system in public service. Photo: Palash Khan

The leaders of the platform said although 28 days have passed since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced abolishment of the quota system in the parliament there is no progress in publication of the gazette notification.

In the wake of mass protests by students, Hasina in parliament on April 11 declared that the quota system would be scrapped.

Under the banner of the parishad, students and job seekers on February 17 launched the movement to press home their five-point demand, including reduction of the quota privilege to 10 percent from 56.

Students of public and private universities across the country took to the streets, demanding reforms of the quota system in one of the most widespread protests in recent times.

The protesters blocked key points in the capital and roads and highways elsewhere.

The quota system was introduced through an executive order in 1972 and was amended several times.