Quota protesters' ultimatum

Students and job seekers demanding reforms to quota system in government services have issued the police and Dhaka University authorities a week's ultimatum to withdraw the cases over violent clashes during their protests.

The protesters issued the ultimatum at a press briefing at the Dhaka University on Wednes-day. Nurul Haque Nur, Joint Convener  of the Council for the Preservation of Bangladesh General Students' Rights, said classes and exams in all educational institutions across the country would be halted if the cases against the demonstrators were not withdrawn within next seven days.
 
General students are worried about harassment at the hands of law enforcers due to these cases, Nurul Haque further said. He said that they are receiving threats from certain quarters. False propagations are being campaigned on social networks, he added. Nurul Haque urged the government to ensure safety of the students who took part in the demonstrations.

Leaders of General Student's Rights Council said that the attack on Dhaka University's Vice Chancellor's residence is a 'stray event'. They called upon the law enforcement agencies to arrest the miscreants immediately.

Reportedly four cases have been lodged in connection with the protests over quota system and the assault on Vice Chancellor's house in which allegations have been placed on unidentified people.

Three days after the April 8 clashes, students and jobseekers under the banner of the council hit the streets again, bringing traffic on key roads to a halt.

When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on that afternoon she would rather see the quota system abolished than repeated protests, the students postponed the demonstration.

Nur reiterated on Wednesday their demands now include swift publication of a gazette confirming the abolishment of quotas in public service recruitment and withdrawal of the cases.The council's Joint Convenors Farooq Hossain and Muhammad Rashed Khan were also present.