Thousands of students of Dhaka University (DU) have taken a stand in Shahbagh with the Bangla Blockade procession as part of the ongoing movement demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs and the reinstatement of the circular issued by the government in 2018.

On Sunday (July 7) around 4 pm, the students blocked the Shahbag intersection. Due to the location of the students, the road leading to Science lab, Mirpur Road, Motijheel was closed at that time. This caused severe traffic jam in the Shahbag intersection area.

Earlier, around 3:30 pm, students organized a procession in front of the central library of DU from various halls and departments of the university under the banner of 'anti-discrimination student movement'. The protest march started from the Central Library of Dhaka University and ended at Shahbagh via Muhsin Hall, VC Chatwar, TSC, Raju Sculpture.

At that time, the students chanted, 'The basic principles of the constitution/liberation war, equality of opportunity', 'Give news to the whole of Bengal, bury the quota system', 'The tool of the eighteen, roar again', 'Wake up, wake up, student society has woken up', There is a fire', 'quota system, cancel want cancel want' etc.

On Saturday (July 6), the spokesperson of the protesting students, Nahid Islam, announced that the 'Bangla Blockade' program will be held from 3 pm on Sunday. College and university students will come down not only at Shahbag, but also at Science Lab, Chankharpool, Neelkhet, Motijheel in Dhaka city. Students outside Dhaka will block highways in districts, universities.

Incidentally, Nahid Islam, one of the organizers of the protesting students on July 4, announced a 3-day program and said that public relations will be online and offline next Friday. A procession will be held from universities and colleges of the country at 3 pm on Saturday. Class-examination boycott and student strike will be observed in all colleges and universities next Sunday. Sunday's field program will be announced after today's protest march.

It is known that before the holy Eid-ul-Azha on June 5, the High Court declared invalid the circular for the cancellation of freedom fighter quota in the case of direct recruitment (grades 9 to 13) in government offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions and various corporations. From that day, a large number of students started protesting in Dhaka University. In this situation, the state applied to the Appellate Division seeking suspension of the court's decision. The full bench of the Appellate Division fixed July 4 for hearing the petition.

Nahid Islam, a student of Sociology Department of Dhaka University, who is one of the organizers of the recent quota reform movement, said that their demand is mainly to redistribute or reform the quota by setting up a commission with a maximum quota of 10 percent in all grades subject to the upholding of the 2018 circular; Stopping the possibility of using quota facility multiple times in the job examination and appointing the vacant posts on merit in case of non-qualification candidates and taking effective measures to ensure corruption-free, impartial and merit-based bureaucracy.

Till 2018, there was a total of 56 percent quota in government jobs in Bangladesh. That year protests started in various educational institutions of the country, including Dhaka University, demanding quota reform. At that time, the protesting students complained of attack by law and order forces including Chhatra League.

On October 4 of that year, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular on the cancellation of quota. Later in 2021, the children of freedom fighters filed a writ challenging the part of the freedom fighter quota cancellation of that circular. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government has taken steps to develop the armed forces, the symbol of Bangladesh's sovereignty, to more advanced and global standards.

She said, armed forces are the symbol of our sovereignty. We have already taken measures to make the armed forces built by my father more advanced and of international standards.

Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the 49th anniversary of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) Sadar Dafar in Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday (July 7) morning.

Referring to the formation of her government in 1996 after twenty-one years, the Prime Minister said, "I took the step of improving the armed forces built by my father and achieving international standards, and also started working in a planned manner with a special focus on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh." .

Sheikh Hasina, after killing the father of the nation with his family in 1975, the military dictatorship and repeated Coup ‘tat and its weight, killing the freedom fighter army officers and being forced to spend 6 years as a refugee in exile, was somehow forced to return to the country when elected as the president of Awami League in 1981. Recalling the context, she also mentioned his first speech on 7th June 1981 during the observance of 6-point day.

"That day I said that I don't want to hear any more widows in the armed forces," she said. I don't want to hear the cry of a fatherless father or a fatherless child. Since then it has been my endeavor to bring back order to those who defend our freedom-sovereignty and make it better and more prosperous. Where there will be peace and not conflict.

Since then there was only one attempt that the country my father made free can never fail.

Highlighting various steps taken by his government to build a modern and up-to-date armed forces, the Prime Minister said, I established the National Defense College and War College in 1998 for better training of our armed forces. Military Institute of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT) in 1999, Armed Forces Medical College was established. Besides, in 2000 measures were taken to include women officers in the army, navy and air force.

She said that the armed forces of Bangladesh at the national and international levels have earned a reputation by performing their duties efficiently.

Referring to the father of the nation's March 7 speech about the construction of the Padma multipurpose bridge with its own funds after overcoming domestic and foreign conspiracies and various adversities, the Prime Minister said that we have proved that Bangladesh is afraid of anyone's bloodshot eyes. We can do it ourselves if we want. No one can pull this country back. We will move forward at an unstoppable speed.

She said, Bangladesh will continue to hold its head high in the world court. Not bowing down to anyone. She also reiterated her strong conviction to build a developed and prosperous golden Bangladesh as well as a 'Smart Bangladesh' equipped with modern technology by the year 2041.

PGR Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Khaled Kamal delivered the welcome address on the occasion.

The Prime Minister handed over donations and gifts to the families of the martyred PGR members at the event while performing security duties.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was accorded a guard of honor on her arrival at the PGR headquarters. The Prime Minister also planted a sapling there.

On the occasion of Jagannath Dev's Rath Jatra, one of the religious festivals of Sanatan religious people including the anti-quota movement, the police have warned of traffic jams in the capital and requested the commuters in Central and South Dhaka to take their time.

In a message on Saturday (July 6) night, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Public Relations Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police KN Roy Niyoti said that afternoon on Sunday, the procession on the occasion of Jagannath Dev's Rath Jatra, one of the religious festivals of Sanatan religions, will circumambulate various important roads of Dhaka.

The message warns that there is a danger of traffic jams due to several other important programs of anti-quota agitators, therefore the traffic department of DMP has requested the people of Ramna, Motijheel, Wari areas to leave with time to go to specific destinations.

On Sunday, the anti-quota activists announced the 'Bangla Blockade' program across the country including Dhaka.

As a result of their program at Shahbag intersection for the past few days, the city dwellers have to suffer from traffic jams even on holidays.

According to the public relations department of DMP, the Rath Jatra will start from Swamibagh ISKON temple in Dhaka at 3 pm on Sunday and will end at Dhakeshwari temple by visiting various roads.

A request has been made by DMP to use alternative roads at that time on the occasion of Rath Jatra.

A student was killed by another student of Dhaka Commerce College in Mirpur of the capital.

The incident took place on Saturday (July 6) evening in Lal Building area next to Commerce College.

The deceased Md. Zubair was an 11th class student of Commerce College.

The officer in charge (OC) of Shah Ali police station Md. Tariquzzaman confirmed the matter.

He said that the killing of the student happened due to conflict of two students of Dhaka Commerce College. We are on the scene, working on this matter. When asked what the reason for the murder was, the OC said, we do not know the reason yet. Accused student Rajin Chowdhury is absconding. The process of sending the dead body for post-mortem is underway.

It is known that the name of the deceased Rajin Chowdhury's father is Iqbal Chowdhury. He is a lawyer by profession. Rajin's mother is a teacher in a college outside Dhaka.

When asked about the murder of Zubair by his classmate, Abu Masud, the principal of Dhaka Commerce College, said that although he knew the incident, he did not know the reason.

He said, after learning about the incident, teachers have been sent by our institution. However, they also did not know the reason for the murder.