Quota reform demo: 100 hurt in police action at JU

At least 100 students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) today sustained injuries as police went into action to disperse them who were staging demonstrations on Dhaka-Aricha highway demanding reform of the existing quota system in government service.

Around a thousand students under the banner of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad took position around 10:30am in front of the university’s entrance demanding reformation of the existing quota system in the civil service.

The law enforcers charged batons and fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, triggering a clash that left 100 students injured, our JU correspondent reports.

Of the injured, 20 were admitted to Enam Medical College and Hospital in Savar while others took primary treatment from the university and local hospitals.

Some of them suffered injuries in their eyes and heads caused by splinters when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells, said physician Bayazid Alam of the hospital.

Police meanwhile claimed that at least 30 of their fellows including three top officials were injured during the clash.

JU Vice Chancellor Farzana Islam condemned the police action on the students at the JU campus.

The demonstrators decided to boycott all classes for the next day following a press conference on the campus in the evening.    

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said this evening that the government will take decision on reforms in existing quota system in public service by May 7.

The minister said this after appearing from a meeting with a delegation of the protesting students at the Secretariat.

Students and job-seekers started demonstrations demanding reformation of the quota system in government jobs on February 17 and their protests took a violent turn following police action on the demonstrating students at Shahbagh in Dhaka yesterday.