DU and JU Correspondent :
Quota movement is flaring up again as ruling party cadres on Sunday attacked students at Dhaka University campus and Rajshahi University campus threatening them to stop such movement.
The movement that passed fourth day yesterday after Eid holiday continued as anger among students is gathering momentum for failing to fulfill the promise of the Prime Minister to abolish the quota system.
Convener of quota reform movement Hasan Al-Mamun told The New Nation on Wednesday that their previous protest programmes including boycott of classes, examinations and greater movement involving all public and private universities and colleges still hold good.
He demanded immediate release of the students detained on previous occasions, proper treatment of the injured, withdrawal of cases and immediate publication of gazette notification ending the quota system.
Protesting action by ruling party cadres and police action some students and teachers of Dhaka University and Rajshahi University held demonstration on Tuesday in both the campuses and in front of Jatiya Press Club.
Police arrested some teachers from in front of Jatiya Press Club and snatched away
their banner. Police also arrested some teachers and former student leaders and later released them on undertaking that they would not join the movement again.
Meanwhile attack on a quota movement leader who was receiving treatment at Anwer Khan Modern Hospital and his expulsion by the hospital authority reportedly on pressure from the law enforcing agencies has added new tension. Police also arrested several quota leaders prompting protest from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar university teachers and students demanding security of all students and teachers
As a follow up teachers and students of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar university also held human chain and protested torture by police and ruling party cadres on Wednesday.
They staged demonstrations protesting the manhandling of Dhaka University teacher Fahmidul Haq and temporary detention of writer and anthropologist Rahnuma Ahmed, and former student leader Baki Billah.
On Tuesday police picked up Rahnuma and Baki Billah and manhandled DU teacher Fahmidul in Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka when they along with a group of citizens tried to stage a peaceful protest against the attacks on the students demanding quota reform in civil service. However, the detainees were released later.
At DU, students and teachers of the Mass Communication and Journalism department on Wednesday formed a human chain at the foot of ‘Aparajeyo Bangla’ around noon.
“Government is curbing our right to speech. Not only this, those who have protested at various times are being attacked,” said Gitiara Nasrin, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department.
Professor Gitiara Nasrin of Mass Communication and Journalism Department said, “The students are our children, so do not dare strike them. The government should not let the situation deteriorate if they do not want to see guardians and teachers of students on the streets again.”
“This kind of incidents is happening regularly and those who are involved should be punished under the law after investigation,” she added.
Masud Al Mahdi, a former student of the MCJ department said, There are thousands of teachers across the country, but only a few are present at this protest. Those who do not stand in solidarity with students are nothing but brokers of authority masquerading as teachers.
DU Development Studies Department Professor Kazi Maruful Islam, International Relations Department Associate Professor Md Tanzimuddin Khan, Sociology Department Associate Professor Samina Lutfa and Economics Department Assistant Professor Rushad Faridi were present at the demonstration, among others.
At Jahangirnagar University, many teachers and students under the banner of “Teachers-Students Unity Platform” also staged demonstrations on the campus.
They brought out a protest procession and held a rally protesting the ongoing oppression on teachers and students across the country.
