National

Students boycott classes-exams demanding quota gazette

Students have begun to boycott classes and examinations at universities and colleges across the country demanding a gazette notification abolishing quota system as per Prime Minister’s decision. 

They have started their demonstration boycotting classes and examination on Monday morning as the government missed the deadline for issuing a gazette notification abolishing the quota system.

In Dhaka University, hundreds of protestors brought out a procession from DU central library around 10:00am, boycotting all classes and examinations while they were chanting slogans, ‘Bangabandhur Banglay Boishommer Thai Nai’, ‘Ar Noy Kalkhepon Dite Hobe Proggapon’, ‘Kota Die Kamla Noy Medha Die Amla Chai’.

In Chittagong University, quota reformists are staging a sit-in on the rail tracks, blocking CU shuttle train service since 8:00am.

Besides, the agitated students are also demonstrating at Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University and other universities and colleges pressing the same demand.

Earlier, quota reform protesters threatened to boycott classes for indefinite period if the government miss to publish a gazette notification abolishing the quota system by 5pm on Monday last.

The protesters launched the movement on February 17 and continued it for five-point demands, including reduction of quota in public service recruitment to 10 per cent from the existing 56 per cent.

In the face of mass protests by students across the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced scrapping the quota system in parliament on April 11