Defying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's warning, Chhatra League men have yet again attacked activists of the quota reform movement.
When a group of teachers was staging a rally at Dhaka University yesterday against repression on students and teachers, Chhatra League men assaulted some quota reformists on the campus of Chittagong University.
The government has been referring to a Supreme Court “order” on the reservation of 30 percent quota for the children of freedom fighters for the last few days, arguing that it cannot be changed.
Freedom fighters who won a legal battle six years ago are yet to get their retirement benefits for public service as the government has not implemented the court's verdict.
The committee formed on July 2 to “review, reform or cancel” the quota system for civil service may seek 90 more working days as it has not finished collecting information and reviewing reports about the system, sources said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she was unable to understand the logic behind the quota reform movement.
Shahana Begum was frequently turning to have a look at the photo of her son printed on the banner. But every time she did it, tears welled up in her eyes making it difficult for her to start the press conference.
“The university is the place of practicing freethinking where everyone has the right to express their opinions. But such attacks on the campus are not acceptable,” he said.
Students seeking quota reforms in civil service have so far been at the receiving end of the wrath of Bangladesh Chhatra League. But yesterday, even teachers were not spared as they stood by their students.
A group of guardians and other citizens yesterday accused the government of playing a dubious role on the quota issue.
Her eyes were full of fury and voice quivered with rage. She looked frustrated and also a bit traumatised while narrating the physical assault, verbal abuse and mental torture she endured at the hands of those against quota reform and police.
With two bones of his legs broken, eight stitches on his head and bruises all over the body, Toriqul Islam lies still on his hospital bed. His right leg plastered up to his thigh, he looks absolutely helpless.
Under what law, by what right, is the BCL beating up the students? Why are the police a mere spectator in all this? On Monday, police were seen leaving the Shaheed Minar just as they saw the BCL men coming to attack the protesters. Reportedly, a number of female students were also manhandled and even kicked. Was it a case of law enforcers leaving the ground so the law breakers could have their way?
While multiple assaults on quota reform activists in Dhaka University caused furore on the campus and grabbed media and public
Government high ups are considering civil service quota reforms, said Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam yesterday.
At least seven members of the platform demanding civil service quota reforms, including its two leaders, were beaten allegedly by a group of BCL activists in front of Dhaka University Library yesterday.
To the students waging the movement against quota, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader says it is not appropriate to boycott classes and examinations.
There has been no progress regarding the publication of a gazette abolishing the quotas in government jobs, the cabinet secretary has said as the deadline set by demonstrators expired yesterday.
The gazette on quota for civil service will be published in due time, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reports quoting Mojammel Haque Khan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration.