The quota protesters on Sunday issued an ultimatum to the government to take visible steps regarding their demand within 24 hours and withdraw the false case filed by police.
Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced the ultimatum at 3:20 pm on Sunday near GPO of Gulistan in the capital.
He said, “We are not getting assurance from the government. As the guardian of the state, we urged the President to take steep to raise the issue of our one-step demand in Parliament. We want him to play a role in passing a law, and call an emergency session in national parliament.”
“Within 24 hours, parliament can convene a session and take effective measures to pass the law there regarding our demand. We want to see visible actions within the next 24 hours from the government side to resolve this issue. Do not force us to cause public suffering. Take action within 24 hours,” he added.
Mentioned, after being blocked by the police near GPO of Gulistan, a twelve-member delegation from different educational institutions on behalf of the agitating students was escorted by police to
Bangabhaban. The delegation submitted the memorandum to the president's military secretary Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury around 2.30 pm.
Earlier, the students from different universities including Jagannath University, Dhaka University, affiliated seven colleges, and Dhaka Universty’s Halls started gathering in front of the central library of Dhaka University from 11 am and started the march towards Bangabhaban.
They submit memo at Bangabhaban demanding quota reform
Protesters demanding reform in the quota system in government jobs submitted a memorandum to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday afternoon.
“A 12-member delegation of students entered the Bangabhaban around 2:35pm and left here around 20 minutes later . . . The memorandum was handed to President’s Military Secretary Major General Mohammad Adil Choudhury,” President’s press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.
In the memorandum, the students demanded calling an urgent session of parliament to resolve what they said “quota discrimination” by enacting new laws or through executive orders.
Earlier at 2:25 PM, when the 12-member delegation went to submit the memorandum to the President, the policemen took them inside the Bangabhaban.
The student delegation included Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam, Asif Mahmud, Hasib Al Islam, Rifat Rashid, Hannan Masud, Sumaiya Akhtar, Abdul Quader, Mehrunnesa Nidra, Arif Sohail, Ashiq and Md. Mahin Sarkar.
Earlier around 12 noon, the students marched from Dhaka University to Gulistan Zero Point via Shahbagh, Matsya Bhaban and High Court.
They faced the police barricade on the way to Bangabhaban and took position in front of the Bangladesh Secretariat and at Zero Point.
Zero Point was virtually paralyzed due to the protestors' blockade for several hours.
