DU Correspondent :
Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, which had been waging movement demanding significant reduction in current quota system in government jobs, on Thursday called off their protest programmes until publication of a gazette on quota system.
The leaders of the parishad came up with the decision on Thursday, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared in parliament that there would be no quota in public service jobs.
The platform co-convener, Rased Khan, made the announcement yesterday morning while addressing a gathering of students in front of anti-terrorism Raju memorial Sculptor on Dhaka University campus.
Their other demands included release of the students who have been arrested during the protest, withdrawal of cases against them, proper treatment of those who have been injured during the protest and safety of general students.
Later, they brought out a celebration procession on the campus, which paraded several streets on the DU premises.
Earlier in the morning, demonstrators gathered in front of Raju Sculptor to express their reaction over the issue. “We have stopped the demonstrations honouring the Prime Minister’s declaration,” said Hasan Al Mamun, a convener of the platform.
On Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister announced that there would be no quota system in government jobs.
Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad started the latest round of movement on Sunday. Central leaders on Monday evening, coming out from a meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, suspended their protests.
Many protesters, however, rejected the decision and continued the protests.
The agitating students and job seekers have been on the streets since February for the five-point demands, including recruitment of jobseekers in vacant posts on the basis of merit if eligible candidates were not found under the quota, an end to special recruitment tests for quota candidates and a single age limit for all jobseekers.
They were demonstrating on the street as 56 per cent quotas are reserved in government jobs — 30 per cent for freedom fighters’ children and grandchildren, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for districts lagging behind, 5 per cent for ethnic minorities and 1 per cent for physically challenged people.
