Thousands of students and job-seekers on Sunday protesting quota system brought out a procession on Dhaka University campus demanding withdrawal of the cases filed against at least 700 of them on March 14.
From the rally, a fresh programme was announced. The job seekers hanging their certificates with necks and hands will arrange Nagorik Somabesh on March 29.
A group of 500-600 students mostly from Dhaka University, and job-seekers, brought out the procession from Central Library of Dhaka University around 10:30am in protest against the filing of cases.
The demonstrators paraded through Nilkhet and Shahbagh with placards and dispersed at Raju Memorial Sculpture on the DU campus.
In the case filed by Shahbagh police, they were accused
of attempting to kill police officers and vandalising vehicles during a demonstration on March 14.
Coordinator of the movement Hasan Al Mamun told the media that police on March 14 foiled their programme by taking action without any provocation.
He said the movement is not against any individual, any group or any organization. It is a logical demand, he added.
Besides, demonstrations were also held at Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, Barisal University, Kushtia Islamic University, Begum Rokeya University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Comilla University, Sylhet Agriculture University and Mymensingh Ananda Mohon College.
The demonstrators put forward five-point demand, including reduction of the proportion of quotas in government jobs, recruitment of job-seekers for vacant posts on the basis of merit if eligible candidates are not found under quota, stopping of special recruitment tests for quota candidates, and ensuring of an unified age limit for all jobseekers.
Currently, 44 percent of service holders are recruited on merit and the remaining 56 percent on privilege allocated under various quotas.
