United News of Bangladesh

The Embassy of Japan has provided grant assistance worth approximately Tk 7.5 million to the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka to improve the classrooms and teachers’ rooms under the scheme of grant assistance for cultural grassroots projects. Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, Prof Dr Sayeedur Rahman, Director, Institute of Modern Languages, project director Prof Dr Mohammed Ansarul Alam, faculties and students of the institute were present on the occasion. Three new classrooms and three teacher’s room were constructed for the Japanese Language and Culture program of IML with Japan government’s cultural grassroot grant. Ambassador Iwama said, “I hope that the stakeholders of this facility could make use of it efficiently not just as classrooms but also as the platform for various cultural and skill development activities in this campus for those who are interested in Japan”.    

The students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) have expressed solidarity with the ongoing movement demanding reform in quota system in government  jobs. A total of 120 to 140 Buet students came together in front of Buet Shaheed  Minar and formed a human chain around 12:30 pm on Tuesday. They issued a press statement  regarding the anti-quota movement. "Once 30% Freedom Fighter quota was reasonable as the freedom fighters went through a very hard situation during and post-war period. But their successor s didn't face the same hardship.  So it is important to reform the quota system considering the situation," the release reads. "Again, 10% quota for women is very much disgraceful for womene. So this quota system should  be reformed," the release adds.

The anti-quota protesters declared to observe a day-long blockade on Thursday if their demand to reform the quota system logically and constitutionally within the next two days is not met. The protesters declared this announcement only before the closing of today’s blockade at the Shahbag intersection around 8.30 pm today. Anti-quota movement: Students intensify “Bangla Blockade” in Dhaka “As we see that the government is not paying heed to us and every time tells us that it is a matter of court, we abided to plan an all-out blockade. There will be no blockade tomorrow.” Before this, the protesters from other blockade sites-including Science Lab, Gulistan, Newmarket, Banglamotor, Motso Vobon Intersection, Poribag, Karwan Bazar, farmgate- came to the Shahbag intersection to express their solidarity with the movement. Anti-quota protests: Students block Science Lab intersection Hasnat Abdullah, another spokesman of the movement, said, students want to go back to their study table but you are not allowing them to go to the study table. We want this quota system to be reformed logically and constitutionally at the minimum rate for the unprivileged people. We are determined to acquire our claim and are ready to pay any cost. Sargis Alam, another frontliner of the movement, said, today we have blocked the most important intersections and crossings of Dhaka city and other cities too. As a result of our blockade, communication among 40 districts was disrupted. If we want, we can disconnect all 64 districts of the country within the next two days.“If we want to build Shonar Bangla, we must allow the real worthy students for this. Quota prevents the real worthy and qualified to be selected. So, it is impossible to implement the dream of Shonar Bangla. We will be on the highways till our demand is met,” he added. Nahid Islam, one of the main coordinators of the movement, said while giving the concluding speech, “We are planning an all-out blockade around the country. We didn’t want to form a committee but as the movement is going long and long day by day. it is getting harder for us to coordinate among the fellows around the country. To address this, we formed a team of coordinators from different campuses to run our movement smoothly.”“The government says this is a court matter and only the court can address it. But we know that needs to be solved by the government. As a result, the movement is getting wider dimensions every day. We are not responsible for this,” he added.While talking about their next moves, he said, “If the situation does not change, We will not sit calm and observe only a day blockade. We will call for an all-out and day-long blockade across the country. Tomorrow we will coordinate among our fellow brothers and sisters in both online and offline platforms to prepare ourselves for an all-out and day-long blockade on Thursday and we know that we can do it very well."  

As part of the “Bangla Blockade” under the ongoing anti-quota movement, protesters today intensified their actions by blocking several major intersections throughout Dhaka. One of the spokesperson of the movement, Sarjis Alam said, they will lift the blockade of Farmgate intersection around 7pm, the procession will then pass through Karwan Bazar and Bangla Motor and the protesters will gather at Shahbag again. Around 4:30 pm, students from Amar Ekushey Hall of Dhaka University and Sheikh Burhan Uddin Post-graduate College blocked the Chankharpul crossing and the adjacent ramp of the Mayor Hanif flyover. This blockage disrupted traffic, creating significant congestion in the area. Simultaneously, students from Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall and Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University barricaded the Paltan crossing and Sikkha Chottor, further amplifying the impact of the protest. Adding to the gridlock, other Dhaka University students targeted key intersections, including Shahbagh, InterContinental hotel, Paribagh, Bangla Motor, and Karwan Bazar.

Students of Dhaka College staged demonstration at Science Lab intersection on Sunday afternoon protesting reinstatement of quota system in government jobs. They took position on the road with placards around 1:30 pm, resulting in huge traffic gridlock in the surrounding areas. The students chanted slogans against the High Court order that paved the way for reinstatement of quota in government jobs and demanding restoration of 2018 circular that abolished the quota system. Protesting Prattay Pension Scheme: Nationwide university teachers’ strike continues for fifth day After nearly six years, on June 5, the High Court ruled that scrapping the 30 percent quota for freedom fighters and their descendants was illegal. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order, triggering protests across the country. On July 7, the Appellate Division did not stay the HC order and asked state attorneys to file leave to appeal. The six-judge Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, did not hold a hearing on a government petition against the ruling but asked the state attorneys to file a regular leave to appeal. The court further said that the High Court's order will remain upheld for now.

Academic and administrative activities at public universities across the country remain halted as the indefinite strike by teachers protesting the ‘Prattay pension scheme enters its fifth consecutive day. Dr. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Secretary General of the University Teachers Association Federation and President of the Dhaka University Teachers Association, emphasized their commitment to the protest. They will continue the movement until their demands are met, he told UNB’s Dhaka University correspondent. Govt closely monitoring pension, quota movements: Quader Criticizing the Universal Pension Scheme, Dr. Bhuiyan described it as discriminatory. This pension scheme facilitates some people while depriving others. It is an affront to the teachers’ dignity and has forced them to seriously reconsider their financial futures, he said. A scheduled meeting between Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and leaders of the University Teachers Association Federation, planned for last Thursday, was canceled. Protesting Prattay Pension Scheme: Nationwide university teachers’ strike continues for fifth day Quader, who also serves as the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, said today that the government is closely monitoring the teachers’ movement and expressed hope for a swift resolution. He made the remark while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat in Dhaka. The university teachers’ indefinite strike began on July 1.

A professor in the sociology department of Dhaka University, has allegedly suspended a student from the department's debating club for participating in the quota reform movement and threatened to file a contempt of court case against those involved. The student, Mosharraf Hossen, is a fourth-year student from the 2019-20 academic session and was nominated as the general secretary of the department’s debating club earlier this year. Students of the department also alleged that Prof. Abul Kashem Mohammad Jamal Uddin threatened that those involved in such 'controversial' activities would never be able to serve as class representatives or hold positions in any committee linked with the sociology department. Students block Dhaka-Tangail for 2 hrs demanding quota cancellation Following Mosharraf's suspension, 45 out of the 71 committee members resigned in protest. In a leaked screenshot, the professor allegedly ordered students to post a poster on their Facebook timelines, threatening that "if the post is not found on any student’s FB timeline, I will not say anything now. But it will be reflected in the exam results." When contacted, Mosharraf said, “I have been suspended from the general secretary post because of my association with the quota reformation movement and my posts about the movement on Facebook. The moderator of the organization, AKM Jamal Uddin sir, made this decision unilaterally without following any rules.” He added, “Moreover, he also threatened to file a contempt of court case in the department's messenger group. I’m neither afraid nor worried about this. I am boldly expressing my support for the quota movement. I will stand with my fellow activists until our demands are met.” Other committee members confirmed the suspension and threats. Freedom fighter quota in govt jobs: SC upholds HC ruling Despite several attempts to reach AKM Jamal Uddin by phone, he did not respond to calls. On June 26, during the annual senate meeting of Dhaka University, Professor Jamal expressed his support for the freedom fighter quota system in government jobs, citing a controversial reference from the Quran. He indicated that freedom fighters were the sole victors of the country, insisting on maintaining a 30% quota for them in government jobs. He referenced Sura Anfal, stating, “Those who win will be the owners of eighty percent of the wealth, jobs, and land of the country. The remaining will be for others.” Students block Dhaka-Barishal Highway, demand quota system cancellation

Students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for around two hours on Saturday demanding cancellation of quota system in government jobs,. The students put up barricade on the highway at 10 am on Saturday in the Nagarjalfai Bypass area and removed it around 12 pm after police intervention. Quota protest: Students lift blockade at Dhaka’s Shahbagh The blockade halted vehicular movement on both sides of the highway, resulting in huge traffic gridlock and causing immense suffering to passengers. Tangail Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Ruhul Amin Sharif said, “After hearing the news of the blockade, we went there and talked to the students. Then students lifted the blockade peacefully."

Protesters against the quota system in government jobs have lifted their blockade at the Shahbagh intersection after nearly eight hours, allowing traffic to resume. Earlier, around 11:45 am, students from Dhaka University (DU) halls and other areas gathered at Shahbagh, blocking the intersection to demand the removal of the quota system in government employment. Throughout the protest, students chanted slogans and sang songs, creating a charged atmosphere. While tensions flared briefly between students and police, today’s protest concluded without any reported clash. At approximately 6 pm, the protesters dispersed, announcing their future plans. Hasnat Abdullah, one of the frontliners of the protest, outlined their upcoming activities: “Tomorrow, we will campaign through online and social media platforms to rally more students. The next day, we will hold processions across the country at 3 pm. From Sunday onwards, students from public universities will boycott all academic classes and exams.”

The stalemate at public universities continued for the 4th consecutive day on Thursday due to the indefinite strike by teachers and staffers. The teachers’ meeting scheduled to be held with Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today was also postponed. Dhaka University teachers arranged a rally in front of the main gate of Arts Faculty where at least 90 teachers from other 35 public universities were present to express solidarity with demand of their exclusion from Prattay Pension Scheme. Addressing the rally, Secretary General of University Teachers Association Federation and President of Dhaka University Teachers Association Dr. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan said  the universal pension scheme is totally discriminatory and it will give facilities to some people and will make others deprived. “This pension scheme degraded our dignity and compel us to think about our financial matters and future generations.” “University teachers’ inclusion in the pension scheme will affect the profession badly. If teachers are included in the scheme, they will be deprived of facilities,” he added. Asked about their expectation, Prof. Nizamul said, “We are expecting the authorities will speak with us about this matter. We had a scheduled meeting today with Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader but due to an urgent programme, he couldn’t join us today. We are expecting to talk to him soon. We are sure that some government officials misled the Prime Minister giving her false or fabricated information, if we can talk to her the problem will be resolved.” Asked about the meeting cancellation Abdur Rahim,  joint secretary general of University Teachers Association Federation, said, he might have an important programme where state’s interest is related. “But our need is also important. It should be taken care with great importance. It is not good for a country that its higher educational institutions remain closed for a long time. We will continue our movement until our demands are heard. There is no alternative way.”