On Sunday (July 14) midnight, public universities erupted in uproar over the Prime Minister’s speech on the quota of freedom fighters in government jobs. From the halls of residence of various university campuses, ordinary students came down to the streets in droves. They made the campus vibrate with the slogans ‘Tumi Ke Ami Ke – Razakar Razakar’, ‘This Bengal soil – Razakar’s base’, ‘I wanted rights, I became Razakar’.
Last night, a section of the Chhatra League occupied the Madhur canteen around the students’ protest. Leaders and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South branches of Chhatra League gathered in Shahbagh area from midnight with batons on motorcycles. Apart from Chhatra League, leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Volunteer League were also there. Although they were seen around the campus, they did not engage in conflict with the anti-quota students. But the position of the leaders and workers of the pro-government organizations caused panic among the anti-quota students.
Meanwhile, the anti-discrimination student movement announced an ultimatum and a one-point demand to withdraw the Prime Minister’s statement on the quota of freedom fighters in government jobs as ‘insulting’. According to the announced program, if the Prime Minister’s speech is not withdrawn by 12 noon on Monday (July 15), protest marches and rallies will be held across the country after 12 noon.
On the other hand, Chhatra League has called for sit-in program at 3 pm today in protest against insulting the spirit of liberation war.
Social Welfare Minister Dr Dipu Moni posted on social media Facebook that:- “those who identify themselves as Razakars have no right to march with the red-green flag of the martyrs of the Liberation War in their hands or with the flag tied on their foreheads.”
DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman has warned that if law and order is violated by disobeying the order of the court regarding the quota reform movement, it will be suppressed with strong hands. He said this at a press briefing about the security measures on the occasion of the holy Ashura celebration and Tazia procession at Hossaini Dalan Imambara in the capital at 11:30 am on Monday.
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