On July 14, 2024, A delegation of students submitted a memorandum to the President with a timeline to see progress on their one-point demand. Photo: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

DHAKA, July 13, 2025 (BSS) - A delegation of students and job seekers on July 14 last year submitted a memorandum to the President with a timeline to see progress on their one-point demand for a rational reform in the quota system in public jobs.

The delegation entered the President's official residence Bangabhaban around 2.35pm and submitted the memorandum to the President's military secretary there.

In the memorandum, the students had called for convening an urgent parliamentary session within the next 24 hours to enact a law reforming the quota system in government jobs or issuing an executive order to this end.

Before the delegation entered Bangabhaban, police set up barricades at different points on the way to the President's residence. The police, however, prevented hundreds of students from marching to the president's official residence by putting a strong barricade at the Gulistan intersection and allowed a 12-member delegation to enter the Bangabhaban.

After coming out of the Bangabhaban submitting the memorandum, Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of the movement, said in the memorandum they recommended a 24-hour timeframe for convening an urgent parliament session to pass a law addressing their one-point demand- reforming the quota in government jobs bringing down it to five percent only for backward section people.

"We expect to see visible action within 24 hours," he added.

Regarding the case filed with Shahbagh police station against the demonstrators, Nahid, also now former adviser of the current interim government and NCP chief, had said that they extended their deadline by another 24 hours to withdraw the case.

"If the case is not withdrawn within this time, we will intensify our movement," he had said, referring to their previous 24 hours ultimatum issued on July 13 demanding withdrawal of the case.

Students from different educational institutions, including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Eden College, Dhaka College and Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls College, joined the march toward Bangabhaban to submit the memorandum. Earlier, they gathered in front of the Dhaka University Central Library around 11am and started the march around noon.

Besides, students from across the country submitted similar memorandums to the President through Deputy Commissioners in their respective districts.

Students of Chattogram University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Cumilla University, Government BM College, Government Syed Hatem Ali College, Barishal City College, Barishal Polytechnic Institute and Barishal University, Islamic University in Kushtia, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Government Edward College, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, were among who submitted the memorandum to the DCs in their respective districts.

At around 11:30 pm on July 14, Chhatra League reportedly attacked students at Chittagong University for participating in the quota reform protests.

Besides, students of Jahangirnagar University brought out a protest procession on the campus and held a solidarity rally besides the Dhaka-Aricha Highway which was followed by human chain to press their one-point demand.

Additionally, protests processions and human chains were also organized in Jhenaidah, Natore, Durgapur in Netrokona, Tangail, and Chilmari in Kurigram.

Later on the same day, now ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a press conference at her Ganabhaban residence ruled out the students' demand of reforming quota through executive order, saying "I have no authority to intervene in the quota issue. The matter will be resolved in the court."

Replying to a question, she also said, "Why do they have so much resentment towards freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of the freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?"

Her comments sparked outrageous among not only students but also general people as Razakar is considered as an offensive term in the country that refers to those who betrayed Bangladesh in the 1971 war by collaborating with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, on that day, the 27-page full verdict of the High Court upholding the retention of quotas in government jobs was published on the Supreme Court's website with a remark that the government could change the quota if it wants," he mentioned.

Besides, referring to the students' 24 hours ultimatum to withdraw the case the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, "The students are protesting without fully understanding the issue. There are instigators behind this movement ... investigations will continue. The cases were filed based on merit."

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque stated that the Cabinet will discuss the matter and make a decision regarding quota reform.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader accused BNP and its allies of trying to turn the quota reform movement into an anti-government campaign.

However, in response to the Prime Minister's comments at the press conference, students at Dhaka University started demonstrations late night on July 14. Around midnight, hundreds of students from various residential halls gathered at TSC with processions.

Female students from Kuwait Maitree Hall, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall and Rokeya Hall also joined the protest.

Protesters chanted slogans such as, "Chaite Gelam Odhikar, Hoye Gelam Razakar", 'Tumi Ke Ami Ke, Razakar! Razakar! Ke Boleche Ke Boleche, Sairachar Sairachar" and "Quota Na Medha, Medha, Medha". The demonstration at TSC continued until 1:30 am.

Later that night, three Chhatra League leaders announced their resignation from the organization through Facebook posts on their respective accounts.

When students were coming out of their dormitories to join the protest that night, Chhatra League activists positioned at the gates and tried to obstruct the students from joining the programme. But ultimately they failed to stop the general students from joining the protest.