For the third consecutive day, students blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection around 11:45 am today (July 04, 2024), protesting the High Court’s decision to reinstate the quota system in government jobs. Around 11 am, students from various halls of Dhaka University began gathering in front of the Central Library. They then marched through the campus, culminating in a massive rally at Shahbagh intersection. Protest against quota: Students block Shahbagh for 2nd day Some students reported that as they were leaving their halls to join the rally, activists from the Chhatra League at Masterda Surja Sen Hall locked the gate to prevent them from participating. However, the main procession proceeded to Surja Sen Hall, broke the lock, and freed the students to join the protest. Earlier, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the protesters had blocked major highways and intersections in the capital, demanding the cancellation of the quota system. Students block Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection in protest against quota system reinstatement During the rally, protesters declared their determination, saying, if needed, they will shed blood to realize their demand. Earlier today, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the High Court order declaring the cancellation of the freedom fighter quota in government jobs as “illegal.”

A 43-year-old man named Jahangir Alam has been arrested over a Facebook post “mocking” the quota system for freedom fighters in the government jobs of Bangladesh. Jahangir, son of Md Mokhlesur Rahman from CP Road in the Dharanda area of Hakimpur upazila, was taken into custody following a case filed by Freedom Fighter Liakat Ali, the former commander of Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad. The case was registered under the Cyber Security Act on Wednesday noon. Restoration of Freedom Fighters quota: July 4 set for full bench hearing before Supreme Court  Md Dulal Hossain, officer in charge (OC) of Hakimpur police station, confirmed the arrest and stated that Jahangir was apprehended from his home in the afternoon. The arrestee will be sent to jail through Dinajpur court today, added the OC. “Merit loses when quota wins”: BAU students protest HC order on govt jobs The Facebook post, made by Jahangir on June 17, suggested that "30 percent of the meat of sacrificial animals should be allotted to the grandchildren of freedom fighters." This post quickly went viral, sparking outrage among the family members of freedom fighters.