The very first day of July last year was gripped by student protests turning the ‘quota reform movement’ into an ‘anti-discrimination student movement’.
On July 1, 2024, students and job seekers staged a large protest rally at Dhaka University demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular that had abolished quotas in government jobs.
Under the banner of the “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” the protesters also announced a three-day program to press their demands.
Hundreds of students gathered in front of the Dhaka University Central Library in the morning. From there, they marched through various parts of the campus, including the Arts Building, Shadow Circle, Mall Chattar, Surya Sen Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, and Basunia Gate, before concluding at the Raju Sculpture near the TSC. A rally was held there, where students reiterated their demands.
Nahid Islam, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced the continuation of class and exam boycotts at all universities and colleges until July 4. “The government must come to a legal resolution regarding our demands by July 4. We need assurance that a final decision will be made about the quota system,” he said.
He further added that university libraries must remain open and all student facilities, including residential halls and medical centers, must be fully accessible. “We support the teachers’ movement against the Prottay scheme. However, student services must not be disrupted in the process,” he emphasized.
As part of the movement’s three-day programme, a mass march was planned to begin from the Dhaka University Central Library at 2:30 PM the next day on Tuesday. Students across the country had been urged to organize similar demonstrations at the same time. On July 3 and 4, students from Jagannath University, the seven DU-affiliated government colleges, and other institutions under the National University in Dhaka planned to gather again at the Raju Sculpture.
University student Sarjis Alam said, “We honor our heroic freedom fighters as the nation’s finest sons. Their privileges can be enhanced if necessary, but the quota-based discrimination must end. We cannot accept inequality.”
The protest concluded around 1 PM. Among the speakers were Abu Bakr Majumdar from Dhaka University and Meherun Nesa from Jagannath University.