Campus Desk

The Chhatra League has dispersed quota protesters after clashing with them on the Dhaka University campus.

Several students injured in the half-hour-long clash were taken to hospital on Monday afternoon.

Both sides had announced duelling programmes in front of the Raju Sculpture following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comments on the quota movement, leading to unrest in the area from the morning.

The quota protesters began gathering in front of the Raju Sculpture around 12:30pm to demand the prime minister withdraw her comments. They chanted slogans, sang protest songs, and recited poetry in support of their movement. Students from Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka College and Eden College took part in the protest.

The Chhatra League had announced a rally in the same area at 3pm, but gathered instead at the Modhur Canteen as the Raju Sculpture area was occupied by quota protesters.

The two sides began throwing volleys of brickbats at each other around 3:15pm in front of Dhaka University's Bijoy Ekattor Hall and Surja Sen Hall.

Quota protesters carrying rods and bats took up positions at the mall courtyard, while the Chhatra League were inside the residential halls and at Modhur Canteen.

Around 3:45pm, Chhatra League activists emerged from several halls and the Modhur Canteen area and charged the quota protesters, beating them back to the VC courtyard.

In the face of the attack, the quota protesters dispersed and left the campus. Chhatra League activists with rods and bats then took up positions at the VC courtyard and other parts of the campus.

After the clash, Asif Mahmud, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told bdnews24.com: “Chhatra League launched a heinous attack on us. They brutally beat our female students.”

“At least 200 students were injured. Many are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other hospitals.”

Sultana Akter, a student of the peace and conflict studies department at Dhaka University, said: “We never imagined that Chhatra League would create such a situation. Many of us, female students, couldn't escape.”

“The Chhatra League activists, wearing helmets, brutally beat us with sticks. Today, Chhatra League has shown how helpless female students are on their own campus.”

Dhaka University Chhatra League President Mazharul Kabir Shayon said, “They provoked our leaders and activists. We responded strongly and drove them out of the campus within five minutes.”

"We urge the general students to withdraw from the movement.”

When asked about the attack on students, Shayon said, "They are not general students; they are supporters of BNP's Ishraque [BNP's International Affairs Committee member Ishraque Hossain].”

“The media has turned a blind eye. Only 10 to 20 percent of this movement consists of general students. The remaining 80 percent are activists from Islami Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal.”

"We have defeated Jamaat-Shibir and Chhatra Dal time and again. They could not achieve anything then, and they won’t be able to do anything now either," he said.

Three to four BCL leaders and activists were injured during the clash, he added.

WHAT DID HASINA SAY?

On Sunday, the prime minister spoke about the ongoing anti-quota movement while addressing the nation at a press conference at Gonobhaban on her just-concluded China visit.

"Why do they hold such resentment towards the Liberation War and the freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't benefit, does that mean the grandchildren of Razakars [Pakistani collaborators] will?" she asked.

Condemning the remarks, ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ coordinator Sarjis Alam says that the prime minister’s remarks had upset the protesters.

“We had trust in the prime minister regarding our demand. But what she said yesterday has raised questions about that trust. We want her to withdraw the remarks immediately.”

“No matter what they say, we have a single goal - the rational reform of the quota system. We will continue to protest until this demand is met.”

He said there is no alternative to a merit-based system to build a developed and smart Bangladesh.

“The 56 percent quota does not match the status of a developed Bangladesh. This does not align with the spirit of the Liberation War.”

In reaction to Hasina’s remarks, the students of Dhaka University brought out a procession at midnight and rallied on the campus chanting slogans including one ‘Who are we? Who are we? Razakar! Razakar!’ which appropriated a slogan from the Liberation War.

After the quota protesters left around 1am, the leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its affiliate organisations held a demonstration on the campus, rallying at the Raju Sculpture after 3am.

The student organisation’s president Saddam Hussain announced a protest programme at 3pm on Monday at the same venue.

“The rally will be held to protest against the insult to the spirit of the Liberation War, the support shown to 1971’s hated Razakars and the destabilisation of the state for the sake of protest.”STUDENT GATHERING

The students of Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka College and Eden College took part in the protests.

Students began gathering in front of the Raju Sculpture on Monday noon.

They shouted slogans condemning the premier’s remarks.

Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinator Sarjis Alam said the prime minister’s remarks had upset the protesters.

“We had trust in the prime minister regarding our demand. But what she said yesterday [Sunday] has raised questions about that trust. We want her to withdraw the remarks immediately.”

“No matter what they say, we have a single goal - rational reforms to the quota system. We will continue to protest until this demand is met.”

He said there is no alternative to a merit-based system to build a developed and smart Bangladesh.

“The 56 percent quotas do not match the status of a developed Bangladesh. This does not align with the spirit of the Liberation War.”

REASON FOR THE PROTEST

Students began protesting after the High Court declared a 2018 notification abolishing quotas in first and second class government jobs illegal.

Initially, they demanded the reinstatement of the notification to remove the quotas but later called for reforming the system.

They have been observing a blockade programme called the "Bangla Blockade" every day except Tuesday last week, causing public inconvenience.

The programmes went smoothly until Wednesday, but on Thursday, police issued warnings and obstructed them in several areas.

The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has imposed a four-week status quo on the High Court’s ruling regarding the quota issue.

The chief justice advised students to return to classes and present their arguments in court instead of protesting.

However, the students demand a parliamentary session to resolve the quota issue and have vowed to continue their protests until a decision is reached.

On Sunday, they submitted a memorandum to the president, giving the government a 24-hour deadline to take visible steps towards quota reform by calling an urgent Parliament session.

They also demanded the withdrawal of all cases against them within the same timeframe.

Hasina, during a press conference on her China visit, said: “The issue of quotas will be settled in court. If there is any destructive activity on the streets, the law will take its own course.”