National
6 years ago

BCL men assault quota protesters again

Photo: Focus Bangla
Photo: Focus Bangla

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Updated :

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists allegedly assaulted some quota reform protesters and teachers of Dhaka University at the Central Shaheed Minar premises on Sunday.

The BCL men swooped on them and physically assaulted six quota protesters and three teachers when they formed a human chain around 12 noon.

The human chain programme was arranged to demand immediate release of the arrested quota movement leaders and punishment of attackers, said witnesses.

The three teachers are Professor Fahmidul Haq and Associate Professor Abdur Razzaque Khan of Mass Communication and Journalism Department and Associate Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan of International Relations Department.

Prof Abdur Razzaque Khan said, "There is no security for both the teachers and the students on the campus now. General people have no right to stage protest."

However, BCL General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain denied involvement of any BCL leaders and activists in the attack.

According to UNB, he claimed it to be a clash between two groups of quota protesters.

But, some students and teachers of the university said there is no basis of such claim as there is no rift among the quota reform activities.

In April, students of public and private universities across the country waged a strong movement demanding reforms in the quota system in public service recruitment process.

In the face of the movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in parliament on April 11 the abolition of all types of quotas in public jobs.

As no gazette notification has so far been issued regarding the abolishment of the quota system as per the PM's declaration, the leaders and activists of Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council, a platform that leads the quota reform movement, resumed their protests at different public universities and they repeatedly came under attacks allegedly by BCL men.

Amid the movement, the Prime Minister on Thursday in parliament said that it is not possible to change freedom fighters' quota in public jobs due to a High Court verdict.

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