Quota reformists have come down hard on the Dhaka University vice-chancellor and proctor describing them as ‘rumour-mongers’.
At a media briefing on Saturday, the Council for Protection of Rights of General Students, which has been leading the protests, announced postponing its decision of boycotting examinations at universities and colleges across the country.
“We have postponed the decision for an indefinite period considering the session jam and the ongoing Ramadan,” Nurul Haque Nur, joint convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, told the media on the campus.
He, however, rapped the Dhaka University authorities for ‘harassing’ female students of Sufia Kamal residential hall by show-causing them.
“Chhatra League leader Esha was expelled without any kind of probe after the Apr 8 incident. The VC and proctor had then said she was found guilty. Soon after, they changed their statement. The VC and proctor are nothing but rumour mongers,” said Nur.
Demanding publication of the gazette notification rescinding quotas in public service, students started boycotting classes and examinations from May 14 for an indefinite period.
Saturday’s decision means that the protesters will take the exams, but will continue to stay away from classes.
In April, students and job-seekers launched street protests demanding reforms to quotas. The demonstrations took a sharp turn when police charged baton and fired tear gas shells on the demonstrators on DU campus, injuring at least 163.
The protesters blocked key points in the capital and roads and highways elsewhere.
In the wake of mass protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 11 announced in parliament of rescinding quotas in civil service.