Dhaka: The quota reform movement has swayed students across the country, following a court order reinstating quotas in government jobs. This decision is perceived as discriminatory against meritorious students, sparking a wave of resistance.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, on the second day of the student-led demonstration, thousands gathered at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection. The protest aimed to reinstate the 2018 circular abolishing quotas in first- and second-class public service recruitment. As the protest gained momentum, Shahbagh became the epicenter of the mass protest, with students and job seekers vowing to remain on the streets until their demands are met.
The rally began at Dhaka University Central Library, with demonstrators from various institutions marching through key areas before converging at Shahbagh. Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans for merit-based recruitment, demanding the government overturn the High Court’s verdict that favored the quota system’s return.
Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, emphasized the protest’s national significance, linking it to the ideals of the Liberation War. He announced plans for another sit-in and called for nationwide demonstrations, stating that the movement would continue until the court’s next hearing.
Across the country, universities saw similar protests, with students blocking roads and reiterating their demand for a merit-based recruitment system. The movement’s core demand is the reinstatement of the 2018 circular, which had abolished the quota system in government jobs, ensuring merit-based recruitment.
Protesters also urged for the formation of an independent commission to eliminate unjust quota systems, advocating for a transparent, merit-based civil service. They called for restrictions on quota usage and filling vacant quota seats with merit-based candidates.
The 2018 decision ended a decades-old quota system, but a 2024 High Court verdict declared a section of the circular illegal, igniting fresh protests. The movement gained momentum, with students viewing the quota system’s restoration as a setback for meritorious candidates. The protests intensified, reflecting widespread discontent with perceived inequalities in the recruitment process.