Protestors demanding reforms to quotas in civil service have been attacked on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday, when they were scheduled to hold a press conference.

The Council for the Preservation of Bangladesh General Students’ Rights, which has been leading the demonstrations, announced a media call in front of the central library at 11am.

As leaders and members of the Council started gathering at the venue, a group of unidentified people, armed with sticks, attacked them.

Several people, including the Council’s Joint Convener Nurul Haque Nuru, have been taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with injuries sustained in the assault.

Leaders of the Council claimed that the perpetrators were members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the ruling party’s student affiliate.

The BCL denied the allegations and blamed the brawl on internal feud of the protestors.

According to witnesses, BCL members gathered near the central library before 11am. As soon as the quota protest leaders arrived at the scene they were attacked.
A group pounded on the Council’s Joint Convener Nuru and physically assaulted him. Soon after, some teachers intervened and took Nuru inside the library. Two others were also assaulted in front of the library, said witnesses.
Around 30 minutes later, quota protest leader Nuru was taken to DMCH by the back entrance of the library on a vehicle belonging to the DU proctor’s office.
Apart from quota protestors, students were also attacked.
“I had come to study at the library. As soon as I came out, I was assaulted,” final-year Economics student Amir Abdullah told Bangla Tribune.
A student, who was identified as World Religion final-year student Md Aash, was seen lying on the ground being assaulted.
As many as six people, including protest leader Nuru, have been taken to the DMCH, said the hospital police camp’s Sub-Inspector Bachchu Mia.
Protest leaders have claimed that the BCL Dhaka University unit members perpetrated the attack.
“We gathered in front of the library around 10:50am. Soon after, BCL activists attacked. At least five of our men have been injured and Nuru is in critical condition,” said the Council’s Convener Hasan Al Mamun.
The BCL denied the allegation.
“Chhatra League is committed to the congenial atmosphere on the campus. As far as we know, the clash was between two factions of the protesters,” BCL General Secretary Zakir Hossain told Bangla Tribune.

Students and job seekers have been protesting for several months, calling for reforms to the quota system for public sector jobs.

The Council had started an indefinite boycott of classes and exams at all universities and colleges on May 14 after the government did not issue a gazette notification on the prime minister's Apr 11 announcement of abolishing quotas in government jobs.

On May 21, the quota reform demonstrators postponed their decision of boycotting examinations considering Ramadan and possible ‘session jams’ it may cause.

According to the existing system, 56 percent posts are reserved for different quotas, including 30 percent for children of freedom fighters, 10 percent each for women and particular districts, 5 percent for small ethnic groups, and 1 percent for people with disabilities.

PHOTO: Nashirul Islam, Rafsan Jani, Rashid Al Ruhani