On July 10, 2024, the anti-discrimination student movement observed a blockade at the Shahbagh intersection in the capital. Photo: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

 
DHAKA, July 9, 2025 (BSS) - The anti-discrimination student movement leaders on July 10 last year vowed to continue their protests demanding quota reform despite the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court issued a status quo on the High Court order over retaining the quota in government jobs on the same day. 
 
The apex court ordered the status quo for four weeks following two separate petitions, filed by the government and two Dhaka University students, challenging the HC judgment and asked the petitioners to file separate leave-to-appeal petitions and set August 7, 2024 for a hearing on those.
 
Following the ruling, the then chief justice had urged the student protesters to return home. But the protesting students vowed to continue their demonstrations until the government would form a commission to reform the quota system and pass a law in the parliament in this regard.
 
Sarjis Alam, a key-organiser of the anti-discrimination student movement, told protesters at the Shahbagh intersection on the evening of July 10 that they would relent only if they would get word from the highest executive position that the quota system would be reformed through a commission.
 
"We want the parliament to enact a law reforming the quotas," he said.
 
Besides, Asif Mahmud, another key-organiser, announced that they would continue the blockade from 3:30pm on July 11.
 
"The students from universities and colleges across the country will continue the Bangla Blockade programme from 3.30pm tomorrow (July 11) by occupying highways and railways in their respective areas. In Dhaka, we will start the programme in front of the Dhaka University (DU) Central Library and spread to key intersections," Asif, now an adviser of the interim government, said.
 
Earlier, after a day's break, the student protesters resumed the "Bangla Blockade" around 10:30am on July 10, occupying key intersections, major highways and rail lines in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
 
As the road and rail communications were snapped, leaving commuters in utter distress, the day-long blockade brought the daily life in the capital Dhaka to a standstill while the epicenter of the protest was Shahbagh.
 
On the day, before 10am, students from different residential halls of Dhaka University gathered in front of the Central Library and then marched in processions chanting quota-reform slogans.
 
From there, they in groups went to different key points and blocked those, including Shahbagh intersection, Karwan Bazar, Intercontinental intersection, Bangla Motor, Farmgate, Shikkha Chattar, Matsya Bhaban, Chankharpul, Chankharpul Flyover and Bongobazar.
 
Students from Dhaka University, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College and Sheikh Borhanuddin College took part in the blockade.
 
Jagannath University students blocked the Gulistan Zero Point and Paltan intersections from 10am, shutting down traffic through Nur Hossain Square. Students from Dhaka College blocked the Science Lab intersection.
 
Jahangirnagar University students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway. Students from Government Titumir College blocked the Mohakhali section of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.
 
Students from Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) and Rajshahi College blocked key roads in the Rajshahi region.
 
Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology blocked major roads including the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway.
 
Cumilla University students blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, while Bangladesh Agricultural University students blocked major roads in Mymensingh.
 
Students of Begum Rokeya University laid a siege to the Modern intersection in Rangpur, while Chittagong University and affiliated colleges blocked key roads including Dewanhat in Chattogram.
 
Pabna University of Science and Technology students blocked the Dhaka-Pabna highway and Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University students blocked the Dhaka-Dinajpur highway.
 
Students from Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, while students of Barisal University and BM College blocked the Dhaka-Barisal and Dhaka-Patuakhali highways respectively.
 
Students had been staging street protests since July 1 demanding a rational reform of the quota system in the government jobs.
 
On July 10, as per their declared programme, students at Dhaka University and other campuses observed the class and exam boycott for the fourth consecutive day.
 
However, in response to the protests, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader had said, "The court's decision is final. I urge students to refrain from programmes that cause public suffering and return to their educational institutions."
 
Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin had said the quota system would not be applied to the circulars issued based on the 2018 government circular that abolished the quota system in the ninth to 13th grades of government jobs.
 
"Now there is no logic in continuing movements over quota," he had said, urging the agitating students to concentrate on their studies.