Students at public universities across the country launched simultaneous protests under the banner ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’.1225 They protested the High Court’s decision to reinstate the quota for civil service jobs1226 and brought forward a four-point demand, including:
- cancelling the High Court order reinstating the quota;
- upholding the 2018 government notice abolishing the quota;
- ensuring merit-based recruitment for public jobs;
- appointing qualified candidates if there are no eligible candidates among quotas for ‘marginalised communities’.1227
Most student protests started on 1 July 2024,1228 as the student movement’s ultimatum to cancel the quota had expired the day before.1229 The initial protest programme took place over the course of three days,1230 until 3 July 2024, which was the day before a scheduled Supreme Court verdict on the quota.1231 Local media reported on students of various universities joining the protests, including universities in Dhaka Division1232 and in other parts of the country.1233 The student protests took place in parallel to a teachers’ strike at 35 public universities,1234 during which all academic and administrative activities were suspended indefinitely to protest changes in the teachers’ pension scheme.1235
The initial student protests reportedly took place at university campuses,1236 although some marches moved outside the campus areas.1237 Some protest actions included blocking major roads, in particular on the second and third day of protests (2 July 2024 and 3 July 2024).1238 Some protests included the following:
- Dhaka University: students held protests at the university campus on 1–3 July 2024, and repeated a daily procession where they marched from the university’s central library to the Raju Memorial Sculpture.1239 On 1 July 2024, they continued protests in front of the proctor’s office to demand the continuation of some student services during the teachers’ strike.1240 On 2 and 3 July 2024, they continued protests by blocking Shahbagh intersection,1241 which is a major intersection in Dhaka City.1242 There are discrepancies in media reports on the duration of the blockade, ranging from 301243 to 90 minutes on 2 July 20241244 and reportedly 60 minutes on 3 July 2024,1245 as well as its scale with the Daily Star reporting on ‘hundreds’ of students from Dhaka University participating in the blockade on 3 July 2024,1246 while another local media source, Dhaka Tribune, reported on ‘several thousand students’ participating from several universities and colleges.1247
- Jahangirnagar University (Dhaka Division): students marched on the university campus on 1 July 2024, and then blocked the Dhaka–Aricka highway1248 for about ten minutes.1249 This is one of the busiest highways in the country.1250 Students blocked the highway again on 2 and 3 July 2024,1251 but expanded the blockade to 30 minutes on 2 July 2024, according to local media New Age,1252 and to two hours on 3 July 2024, according to Dhaka Tribune.1253
- Jagannath University (Dhaka Division): students marched on the university campus on 1–3 July 2024,1254 but also moved through areas outside campus, including Raisaheb Bazaar and Bahadur Shah Park (also known as Victoria Park).1255 On 3 July 2024, students reportedly also blocked a road at Taantibazar intersection for about an hour.1256
- Rajshahi University (Rajshahi City): students reportedly started protesting already on 30 June 2024 and protested during three consecutive days (30 June–2 July 2024) by forming a human chain at Paris Road1257 – a famous avenue at the university campus.1258
- Barishal University (Barishal City) students protested at the main gate of the university on 1 July 20241259 and according to local media outlet Barta24, they also marched on the Dhaka–Barishal highway in the afternoon.1260 Protests were repeated on 2–3 July 2024, with students blocking the highway.1261
- Bangladesh Agricultural University (Mymensingh City): students reportedly protested on 1 July 20241262 and on 3 July 2024, when they halted a commuter train for an hour.1263
- 1225
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Bangladesh university students launch protests against quotas in jobs again after High Court verdict, 1 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1226
Bdnews24.com, Students protest revival of quota system for government jobs in Shahbagh, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Barisal University students block highway protesting quota reinstatement, 2 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url
- 1227
New Age, Student protests against quota intensify, 4 July 2024, url
- 1228
Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url
- 1229
Daily Star (The), Students block Sahahbagh intersection for an hours in protest of quota system, 2 July 2024, url; New Age, Students threaten nationwide movement against FF quota, 10 June 2024, url
- 1230
Business Standard (The), DU, JU students continue protest against quota reinstatement, 1 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Bangladesh university students launch protests against quotas in jobs again after High Court verdict, 1 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Anti-quota demos rage on across the country, 4 July 2024, url
- 1231
Business Standard (The), Buet students stage protest against quota system, 9 July 2024, url
- 1232
Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Bangladesh university students launch protests against quotas in jobs again after High Court verdict, 1 July 2024, url; Mirror Asia (The), Protest continues against quota system reinstatement, 2 July 2024, url
- 1233
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url; PrimeNewsbd.net, Pressure mounts on govt amid student protests, 5 July 2024, url
- 1234
Daily Star (The), Teachers' protest over pension scheme, 3 July 2024, url
- 1235
Business Standard (The), DU, JU students continue protest against quota reinstatement, 1 July 2024, url; Benar News, Faculty, university employees in Bangladesh strike against new pension plan, 1 July 2024, url
- 1236
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1237
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Students protest revival of quota system for government jobs in Shahbagh, 2 July 2024, url
- 1238
Bdnews24.com, Students protest revival of quota system for government jobs in Shahbagh, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Anti-quota demos rage on across the country, 4 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Quota movement: JU students block highway for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1239
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Business Standard (The), DU, JU students continue protest against quota reinstatement, 1 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Students protest revival of quota system for government jobs in Shahbagh, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Students block Sahahbagh intersection for an hours in protest of quota system, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url
- 1240
Business Standard (The), DU, JU students continue protest against quota reinstatement, 1 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1241
Daily Star (The), Students block Sahahbagh intersection for an hour in protest of quota system, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Protests against quota: Students block Shahbagh for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url; New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url
- 1242
New Age, Student protests aganist quota intensify, 4 July 2024, url
- 1243
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url
- 1244
Bdnews24.com, Students protest revival of quota system for government jobs in Shahbagh, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Students block Sahahbagh intersection for an hours in protest of quota system, 2 July 2024, url
- 1245
Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url
- 1246
Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url
- 1247
Dhaka Tribune, Quota movement: JU students block highway for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url
- 1248
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url
- 1249
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Bdnews24.com, Bangladesh university students launch protests against quotas in jobs again after High Court verdict, 1 July 2024, url
- 1250
New Age, Student protests aganist quota intensify, 4 July 2024, url
- 1251
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Quota movement: JU students block highway for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Quota movement: JU students block highway for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url
- 1252
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url
- 1253
Dhaka Tribune, Quota movement: JU students block highway for 2nd day, 3 July 2024, url
- 1254
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url; Mirror Asia (The), Protest continues against quota system reinstatement, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Protests against quota intensify, 3 July 2024, url
- 1255
Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1256
Daily Star (The), Anti-quota demos rage on across the country, 4 July 2024, url
- 1257
New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url; New Age, Students block Shahbagh, highway as quota protests intensify, 2 July 2024, url
- 1258
Financial Express (The), Paris Road's iconic trees at RU on the verge of lifespan, 14 May 2021, url
- 1259
Dhaka Tribune, Barisal University students block highway protesting quota reinstatement, 2 July 2024, url; Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url
- 1260
Barta24, University campus in turmoil due to student agitations, 2 July 2024, url
- 1261
Dhaka Tribune, Barisal University students block highway protesting quota reinstatement, 2 July 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Anti-quota demos rage on across the country, 4 July 2024, url
- 1262
Dhaka Tribune, Public univ students hold protest rallies demanding abolition of quota, 1 July 2024, url
- 1263
Prothom Alo, Anti-quota protestors halt moving train at BAU in Mymensingh, 3 July 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, Anti-quota protest: BAU students stage demo by halting train movement, 3 July 2024, url