RU students protest reinstatement of ward quota

Students have staged a protest march against the reinstatement of the ward quota for first-year admissions at Rajshahi University.

Condemning the move by the administration, they held the programme on Friday afternoon at the Zoha Square of the university. Prior to that, students brought out a procession from the central mosque of the university.

Alongside general students, leaders and activists of various student organisations also joined them.

From the procession, students chanted slogans such as “If you want alms, take alms, bury the ward quota,” “Merit, not quota, merit, merit,” and “Let the spirit of ’24 roar once more.”

Salahuddin Ammar, a candidate for General Secretary (GS) from the Anti-Dominance Unity panel of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), said, “The July Revolution was organised around the issue of unjustified ward quotas.

“Six months after the July Revolution, we abolished the ward quota. But the administration has reintroduced it at RU. We strongly condemn and protest this. Along with that, we demand the abolition of the ward quota.”

Independent candidate for Assistant General Secretary (AGS) Sajibur Rahman said, “After 35 long years, the enthusiasm created centring the RUCSU elections has been sabotaged by this move of the administration.

“The spinelessness shown by the administration has deeply saddened us, the students. Through today’s programme, we want to declare that the ward quota will not make a comeback at Rajshahi University under any circumstances.”

On September 17, a section of teachers, officers, and employees had warned of a full-day work stoppage from September 21 if the ward quota was not reinstated. In response, the admissions committee in a meeting on Thursday afternoon approved the decision to admit children of teachers, officers, and employees under the ward quota, subject to conditions, for the 2024–25 academic year.

In the evening, students staged a sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence to protest the decision.

Earlier, on January 2, in the face of a student movement, the Vice-Chancellor had announced the permanent abolition of the ward quota.

Later, on August 13, a section of teachers, officers, and employees began a work stoppage and sit-in strike with eight demands, including reinstating the ward quota.

As part of that programme, they had declared a full-day work stoppage from August 24 to 26.

Subsequently, on August 24, following assurances from the administration, the teachers, officers, and employees protesting for the reinstatement of the ward quota announced the suspension of their three-day sit-in strike.