On July 10 last year, leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement reaffirmed their commitment to continuing protests demanding reform of the quota system in government jobs. Their stance came even as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, on the same day, imposed a four-week status quo on a High Court verdict that had called for retaining the existing quota system.
The top court issued the order in response to two separate petitions—one from the government and the other from two Dhaka University students—challenging the High Court decision. It also directed the petitioners to submit leave-to-appeal petitions, setting August 7, 2024, for the next hearing
The protesters welcomed the apex court order but said they would not leave the streets until the government assured them of fulfilling their demand.
The protesters demanded that the government enact a law in parliament abolishing all quotas in the public services except for a five percent quota for marginalised people.
Sarjis Alam, who was a key organiser of the anti-discrimination student movement back then, said, "We want the parliament to enact a law reforming the quotas."
Besides, Asif Mahmud, another key organiser, announced that they would continue the blockade from 3:30 pm on July 11.
"The students from universities and colleges across the country will continue the Bangla Blockade programme from 3.30 pm tomorrow (July 11) by occupying highways and railways in their respective areas. In Dhaka, we will start the programme in front of the Dhaka University (DU) Central Library and spread to key intersections," he stated.
As the road and rail communications were snapped, leaving commuters in utter distress, the day-long blockade brought the daily life in the capital, Dhaka, to a standstill, while the epicentre of the protest was Shahbagh.
On July 10, as per their declared programme, students at Dhaka University and other campuses observed the class and exam boycott for the fourth consecutive day.
On the day before 10 am, students from different residential halls of Dhaka University gathered in front of the Central Library and then marched in processions chanting quota-reform slogans.
From there, they went in groups to different key points and blocked those, including Shahbagh intersection, Karwan Bazar, Intercontinental intersection, Bangla Motor, Farmgate, Shikkha Chattar, Matsya Bhaban, Chankharpul, Chankharpul Flyover and Bongobazar.
However, in response to the protests, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader had said, "The court's decision is final. I urge students to refrain from programmes that cause public suffering and return to their educational institutions."
Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin had said the quota system would not be applied to the circulars issued based on the 2018 government circular that abolished the quota system in the ninth to 13th grades of government jobs.
"Now there is no logic in continuing movements over quota," he had said, urging the agitating students to concentrate on their studies.
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