Dhaka University closed indefinitely; students asked to vacate dormitories
The Supreme Court on June 5 declared illegal a 2018 government circular abolishing quotas for government jobs. | Photo: Pexels
Authorities at Dhaka’s premier university on Wednesday announced that the institution will be closed indefinitely after ongoing protests against reforms to the quota system for government jobs spiraled out of control and left at least six people, including three students, dead across the country.
Students must vacate their dormitories by 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
This decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the syndicate at the office of Vice Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal, pro-VC (academic) Prof Sitesh C Bachar was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.
“In view of the safety of the students, we have decided to close the university indefinitely and evacuate the corridors,” Bachar told The Daily Star.
However, students from the university are protesting the decision and have gathered en masse at the VC’s residence, the report said.
At least six people, including three students, were killed and more than 100 others injured on Tuesday after protesters demanding reforms to public sector quota policies clashed with police in major cities across Bangladesh, forcing schools and colleges to close.
On June 5, the Supreme Court declared illegal a 2018 government circular abolishing quotas for government jobs. On July 10, the Supreme Court granted a status quo on the Supreme Court ruling.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities to suspend their academic activities until further notice and has instructed students to vacate their dormitories.
In response, an emergency meeting of Dhaka University’s highest policy-making body, the syndicate, was called on Wednesday.
The UGC directive followed a series of clashes that broke out during the protests against the quota reform.
However, clashes broke out on Monday when activists from the ruling Awami League’s student movement confronted the protesters, alleging that the existing quota system largely hampers enrollment of meritorious students in government services.
Protesters accused the student wing of the ruling party, Bangladesh Chhatra League, of attacking their peaceful protests with police support.
The protesters blocked highways and railway lines in four major cities: central Dhaka, northwestern Rajshahi, southwestern Khulna and the major port city of Chattogram.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as university students battled counter-protesters armed with sticks and stones.
Rival student groups marched at several key locations in the capital Dhaka, with some throwing stones at each other, bringing traffic in the city of 20 million to a virtual standstill.
Students from Dhaka’s leading university spearheaded the recent week-long protests over recruitment for first and second grade government jobs, demanding that positions be filled based on talent and that the current quota system be reformed.
Under the current system, 30 percent of jobs are reserved for descendants of veterans of the 1971 War of Independence, 10 percent for administrative districts, 10 percent for women, 5 percent for ethnic minorities and 1 percent for the physically disabled.
Each year, 3,000 government jobs are created, allowing nearly 400,000 graduates to graduate.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: Jul 17, 2024 | 3:05 PM IST