Protesters rallying for quota reforms will observe two hours strike today (Sunday) as the government failed to publish the gazette abolishing the quota system in government job as assured by the Prime Minister in the Parliament within their 24hr ultimatum hours.
The strike will be observed from 11:00am to
1:00pm in the all the public university and colleges and they will hold protest rally on the campuses at the same time.
Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Council Convener Hasan Al Mamun came with this announcement in a press briefing held in front of Dhaka University central library on Saturday morning. Earlier, on Wednesday, the platform issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government for publication of gazette.
While reading out the written statement at the press conference, Hasan Al Mamun said that the miscreants, law enforcer agencies and different university administrations are harassing their fellow activists and their family members’ frequently.
Mamun warned of launching tough movement if further harassment occurred.
He further said that already thirty-one days passed since prime minister’s declaration, but there was no visible development, which caused frustration among general students.
Nurul Huq Nur, Joint Convener of the platform said that they would not accept any further drama regarding quota reform as there was no space for hesitation after premier ‘s clear cut announce regarding this.
In the face of protests across the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in the Parliament on April 11 that the quota system in government jobs would be abolished.
Asked whether there was any headway in the issuance of the gazette notification, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Monday said that there was no progress so far and he did not get any instruction over the matter as yet.
Earlier on April 26, the protesters warned that they would resume agitation if a gazette notification was not published by April to May 7.
The protesters took to the street on April 8 and continued the protests for redisation of five-point demands, including reduction of quota in public service recruitment to 10 per cent from the existing 56 per cent.
The protesters also demanded withdrawal of cases as at least five cases were filed against unnamed people with Ramna and Shahbagh police over violence and vandalism during the movement on the DU campus.
