Govt to negotiate with agitators, judicial probe initiated: Law Minister

The government is set to negotiate with students agitating for quota reform, said Law Minister Anisul Haque on Thursday.

He said that two ministers have been assigned to handle the discussions.

"The discussion will take place as soon as the protesting students agree to meet," the law minister said. “On the quota reform issue, we agree in principle,” the minister said.

The announcement comes as protesters continue a countrywide ‘complete shutdown,’ which has led to several clashes across the nation.

“The discussion will be held whenever the agitating students agree to sit for talks,” said the minister, adding that Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has been appointed to lead the discussions with the students.

Anisul Haq made these remarks to reporters after returning from Ganabhaban in the capital this afternoon.

The law minister said the prime minister has assigned him and the education minister to meet with the students.

“We will sit with them whenever they want. If they want it today, we can sit today,” he said.

Urging the protesters to withdraw their movement, the law minister said, “As a father, I request you to withdraw from the movement.”

“The Prime Minister has asked me to take steps for an early date for the case’s hearing scheduled for August 7,” he said.

In this regard, the law minister said, he has directed the Attorney General to apply at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday (July 21, 2024), so that the hearing date is set at an earlier date.

This development comes in the wake of violent clashes last Tuesday that resulted in six deaths across different parts of the country during the students' movement. In response, the law minister announced the formation of a judicial investigation committee, headed by High Court Judge Khondkar Diliruzzaman, to probe the incidents.