With bandages from toe to thigh on his right leg and eight stitches on left side of his head, Toriqul Islam is unable to turn to any side while lying in his hospital bed.

Her eyes were full of fury and voice quivered with rage. She looked frustrated and also a bit traumatised while narrating the physical assault, verbal abuse and mental torture she endured at the hands of those against quota reform and police.

Under what law, by what right, is the BCL beating up the students? Why are the police a mere spectator in all this? On Monday, police were seen leaving the Shaheed Minar just as they saw the BCL men coming to attack the protesters. Reportedly, a number of female students were also manhandled and even kicked. Was it a case of law enforcers leaving the ground so the law breakers could have their way?

Government high ups are considering civil service quota reforms, said Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam yesterday.

At least seven members of the platform demanding civil service quota reforms, including its two leaders, were beaten allegedly by a group of BCL activists in front of Dhaka University Library yesterday.

The quota issue has not been discussed at today’s cabinet meeting either as protestors resume their countrywide agitation demanding quota-free civil service. But, there is some development - the paperwork has been forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office.

The quota reformists threaten to boycott classes and examinations in all universities and colleges across the country for indefinite period from tomorrow if the government fails to publish a gazette abolishing quota system by 5:00pm today.

Demonstrators have called for fresh programmes as the government is yet to publish a gazette based on prime minister’s assurance of abolishing quota system in civil service. They have called for human chains across all universities and colleges demanding a swift implementation of the promise.

There has been no progress regarding the publication of a gazette abolishing the quotas in government jobs, the cabinet secretary has said as the deadline set by demonstrators expired yesterday.

Leaders of the quota reform movement yesterday postponed their agitation till May 7, following an assurance that the gazette abolishing the quota system in government jobs will be published by the then.

The parliamentary body on public administration opines for bringing “logical reform” to the existing quota system in civil service, upholding the spirit of the constitution.

Now that the dust has temporarily settled from the recent agitation for reform of the quota system in government jobs, it is time to calmly reflect on the next steps needed to establish a system that is fair and equitable and makes best use of the potential in our youth.

The quota-reform agitators give a seven-day ultimatum to the authorities concerned for withdrawing all the cases filed during demonstrations at Shahbagh and Dhaka University.

Police refute claims that the quota reform activists were blindfolded while being escorted to Detective Branch office yesterday.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader says there was a shadow of anti-government agenda in the quota demonstration and that it was handled aptly.