A tense situation arose at Rajshahi University on Saturday over the dependent quota issue, as students clashed with university officials.
The incident occurred around 4pm in the corridor of the Zuberi Building, where students cornered the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, Proctor, Public Relations Officer and several other officials.
The ward or dependent quota grants preferential admission to the children of university staff and teachers. Though scrapped in January, it was conditionally restored by a decision of the admission committee on Thursday.
Earlier in the noon, students locked the residence of the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, forcing Prof. Main Uddin Khan and Proctor Prof. Mahbubur Rahman to leave after failing to enter.
As they moved toward the Zuberi Building, students followed them, chanting slogans.
Proctor Prof. Mahbubur Rahman said that students blocked the Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s residence and the Zuberi Building lounge to demand the abolition of the dependent quota, leading to a scuffle.
He also claimed that his watch and money were snatched during the scuffle.
Mujahid Faisal, general secretary of Rajshahi University branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir, said, “The upcoming RUCSU election, scheduled in four days, is being affected by attempts to bring back the dependent quota. Students of all groups have joined the movement. Our main demand is to prevent the unfair dependent quota from returning.”
He also said, “The university’s admission and classes are running successfully without this quota and an attempt to restore it before the election is clearly aimed at disrupting the process.”
He also emphasized that Islami Chhatra Shibir fully supports the students’ movement and it would continue until the permanent solution of the issue.
Salamuddin Ammar, former coordinator of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), stated that the administration’s approach to a resolved issue was deeply concerning.
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“We have been on a peaceful sit-in since yesterday, but the administration has not taken acceptable steps. The attack on students today is completely unacceptable. I urge all students to join the protest peacefully. We will not leave until our demand is met,” he added.
It is to be noted that the protest followed the admission committee’s Thursday decision to allow conditional admission under the quota, prompting a demonstration in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.