Protests rage on

In a dramatic turn of events, two factions of demonstrators, who had been demanding reforms in the civil service quota system, reunited yesterday and called for nationwide road blockade and strike at universities and colleges from today.
The blockade and strike will continue until their demands are met.

“We won't step aside from the movement until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina comes up with a specific announcement to put an end to this," said Nurul Haque, joint convener of the Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, while briefing the media at Dhaka University Library yesterday evening.

The parishad resumed its agitation yesterday after what it said were derogatory comments made by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and the government's reluctance to solve the matter before the budget.

The parishad had postponed its protest programmes on Monday. Even yesterday morning it asked all to refrain from protesting until May 7 or join the faction that continued to demonstrate. It, however, changed its mind in the afternoon.

The platform demanded Matia apologise in parliament for her comment made Monday night.

She had said, “Will the children and successors of those who risked their lives to fight for independence not get an opportunity? Will the children of Razakars get the chance? Will the quota for the freedom fighters be shrunk for them?”

The parishad also burnt her effigy yesterday on DU campus.

Nurul Haque announced that classes and exams in all universities and colleges would be boycotted until their five-point demand was met. Their demands include release of all protestors detained by police and free treatment for the students injured in Sunday night's clash.

A DMP high official however said all the detainees had been released on Monday.