Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Tuesday staged a protest against the alleged reinstatement of the ward quota under the guise of “institutional facilities”.
The protesters held a sit-in in front of the Registrar’s Building, demanding the immediate abolition of the quota system.
The students claimed that the administration is attempting to reintroduce the old quota system in a new form, describing the move as discriminatory and contrary to the expectations of the student body.
They further argued that this initiative ignores the spirit of recent movements that sought the removal of such quotas.
Speakers at the rally issued an ultimatum to the university administration, demanding a suspension of the decision by 11am on Wednesday. They warned that if their demands are not met, they will announce “tougher programmes,” asserting that they will not compromise on “fair demands”.
Several representatives of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) alleged that the administration made this significant decision without any consultation with stakeholders, despite the central and hall unions being active.
According to the Jucsu Education and Research Secretary, the application process for admissions under the “institutional facility” is scheduled to take place from 1 to 9 March.
Meanwhile, a section of the students has demanded a referendum on the matter to ensure the reflection of broader student opinion.
