Quota protest: Shahbagh intersection blocked

Agitating students have blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital demanding the cancellation of quotas in government jobs.

The students took position first in front of the library of Dhaka University around 11:30 am on Thursday (July 4), causing huge traffic jam in Shahbagh and adjacent areas.

Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostazirur Rahman told risingbd that we are trying to disperse the students from the area. Additional police forces were deployed in the area to avert any untoward incidents.

Students said that thousands of students gathered in front of the university's central library. From there they toured various important places of the university. Then they blocked the Shahbag intersection.

In 2018, following a severe student uprising, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification cancelling the 10% women's quota, 30% freedom fighter quota, and 10% district quota for direct recruitment from 9th grade and 10th to 13th grade on October 4. The notification stated that direct recruitment to these posts would be based on merit, abolishing the existing quota system.

Later, seven students including the freedom fighter's son and president of Generation Command Council, Ahidul Islam filed a writ petition challenging the circular. Following that, on June 5, the High Court declared invalid the decision to cancel the first and second-class FF quota system in government jobs.