Physically challenged protesters postpone Shahbagh blockade

Physically challenged protesters demanding reservation of five percent quota for them in class-I and class-II government jobs yesterday postponed their Shahbagh blockade programme temporarily, following the “Administration's Assurance”.

Ali Hossain, convener of the platform spearheading the protest, made the announcement from a press conference held at the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka at around 5:30pm, according to our Dhaka University correspondent.

“Many of us have fallen ill. People in the administration have told us that the government is considering our demands with priority. We will discontinue the sit-in and continue our protest through different programmes,” said Ali Hossain.

They said they would also submit a memorandum to the prime minister today and hold a roundtable over their demands later this month.

Last Thursday, some 100 students with disabilities, under the banner of “Bangladesh Pratibandhi Shikkharthi Oikya Parishad”, blocked Shahbagh intersection by putting up barriers. The protestors sat in the middle of the road to press home their demands. They also vowed to continue their blockade programme until their demands are met. 

The blockade caused severe traffic congestion in many areas in the city in the last four days. People were stuck in long tailbacks on adjacent roads. Transports were hard to come by, and many were seen walking to their destinations.

Though Thursday's programme saw participation of over a hundred people but in the last couple of days, the number of protesters came down to around 30.

At the press conference, Ali Hossain also said at least 15 protestors fell sick due to the unfavourable weather. Of them, six took primary treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

'REINSTATE INDIGENOUS QUOTA'

Protesters demanding reinstatement of five percent quota for indigenous communities in class-I and class-II government jobs continued their demos across the country.

In Chattogram, around 100 indigenous students of Chittagong University (CU), under the banner of “Parbatya Chattogram Pahari Chhatra Parishad” (PCP), formed a human chain in the university's Zero Point area around 11:30am yesterday, says our CU correspondent.

“Students who live in cities have access to good schools, teachers and classrooms but the picture in the hills is completely different,” Sunayan Chakma, president of PCP's CU unit, said.

In Rajshahi, around 40 indigenous students under the banner of “Adivasi Quota Rokkha Committee” staged a sit-in in front of the main gate of Rajshahi University (RU), blocking the highway, our RU correspondent informs.