Students stage demo on campuses across Bangladesh over PM’s remarks

Thousands of students of the universities across Bangladesh staged demonstrations and brought out processions on Sunday night as the prime minister’s remark hurt them.

Responding to a question over the anti-quota protest at a press conference at the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s  official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday, she said, ‘Why so much anger against the liberation war and freedom fighters? The grandchildren of the freedom fighters will not get quota? Will Razakars’ grandchildren get it? My question is to the country people.’

Several thousand students of Dhaka University residential halls on Sunday night took to the streets and brought out processions on the campus.

The students of the residential halls, including Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Bijoy Ekattor Hall and Surja Sen Hall and students protesting for reforming quotas in government jobs is holding processions over the remarks.

‘The prime minister had tagged all as Razakar in a wholesale basis. We have come out of halls protesting at her remarks,’ said an English department student for the session 2019-20.

He said that their fellows were confined at Bijoy Ekattor Hall by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League.

Sarjis Alam, one of the coordinator of Students Movement Against Discrimination, a platform for quota movement, told that the procession was one of the big processions in the history of the university.

‘We are marching throughout the campus and urging all students to join us,’ he added.

Bijoy Ekattor Hall provost Abdul Bashir said that they had nothing to do with the student problem.

‘We hope that the situation will come down,’ he added.

Students of Rajshahi University blocked Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in front of the university main entrance over the PM’s remarks

Jagannath University female and male students also gathered at the main gate of the university at around 11:45pm protesting at the PM’s comment.

The agitating students also brought out a procession in the area at about 12:20am on Monday.