Private university students also joined the movement yesterday in the capital and other places while the student leaders steering the agitation said they would continue peaceful movement until the Prime Minister will make clear pledge to reform the system.
Meanwhile, comment by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury that 99 percent of the students agitating for the quota system are children of Rajakars has drew sharp rebuttal from various quarters.
It comes as a big surprise to raise question who she is to call others Rajakars when her own identity and role as a freedom fighter is not clear and known to many. Mere going to India during the liberation war does not give one the right to call others Rajakars.
Elders of hundreds and thousands of students now agitating to scrap the quota system to establish their rights were also freedom fighters and outstanding heroes in many cases.
Instead of playing a role to meet the legitimate demands of the students, her comment only exposed her hatred to the vast majority of the country’s population as she fear the quota movement may plummet her party’s popularity in the election year. The government must be careful about the leftist agent provocateur from within.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s comment yesterday also sounded equally negative when he said the quota issue may be discussed after the budget session, meaning not before August next.
It has added more misgiving instead of helping the situation as students believe the government is not ready to take the issue seriously.
It prompted the joint convener of the movement — Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Forum – Rashed Khan to make the announcement at a briefing at Dhaka University that classes and examinations in all educational institutions will remain closed until the issue has been resolved.
Meanwhile, many wonder why TV stations are not telecasting the live news on the students’ movement at the campuses and other places unlike the extensive coverage over the past two days.
Under the present quota system only 3 percent vested interest and elite groups enjoy 56 percent of the government job leaving hardly any reasonable access for recruitment of others on merit basis.
A volatile situation continues in the Dhaka University campus as police were crowding at entry points and attacked students who were holding their position at different locations on the campus.
Meanwhile, the attack on the residence of the varsity Vice Chancellor on midnight Monday has become a central issue as the government leaders and police are out to put blame on the agitating students for the attack.
But student leaders say they believe it is the act of a faction of BCL; which raided the residence in support of the government and ransacked it to foil the movement and turn the event to a different direction.
DMP police said they have been able to identify the students who had attacked the VC’s residence, but student leaders say police are charging the students who were arrested earlier from the campus on past two days for attack on the VC’s residence. They are blocking the release of their fellows in false ground.
A section of ruling party affiliated student organization BCL raided different residential halls on Tuesday night and was looking for leaders and common students who were playing vital role in the movement.
They were also visible on Monday in the campus equipped with sticks and fire arms and occasionally went on attacking the students to disperse the movement. Similar reports also flashed out from Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Kustia Islamic University and such other public universities.
Students charged the VC on Monday why police entered the varsity campus without permission and attacked and beaten students and arrested some of their colleagues.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday claimed they have withdrawn police from campus but their presence is noticeable around the campus.
Meanwhile, the announcement of Awami League general secretary and communication minister Obaidul Quader created misgiving among a section of students mainly comprising BCL leaders who tried to break unity and slow down the movement to make the situation easier for the government.
But Matia Chowdhury’s comment that over 99 percent of the students joining the movement are offspring of Rajakars united all students again to fuel the movement.
Agitated students last evening burnt the effigy of Matia Chowdhury at TSC corner demanding apology. Obaidul Quader however said it is her personal opinion, the government has nothing with it.
Huge presence of female students was equally visible yesterday to give the movement new momentum. The movement leaders last evening announced that the agitation will continue everyday from 10am to 7pm taking into consideration the safety of female students from attack by ruling party goons. The quota movement in Bangladesh caught headlines in world media including FOX News, CNN and Aljazeera.
