Govt issues circular; some quota reform organisers reject it

A countrywide internet blackout dealt a massive blow to the lives of Bangladeshis, upending their digital lifestyle and leaving many businesses staring at huge financial losses.

Garment factories kept production suspended on July 20 and decided to keep the units closed  on July 21 as well considering the safety of the workers and the factories amid ongoing countrywide violence and curfew imposed by the government

The countrywide shutdown and subsequent violence centring the quota reform movement crippled business and economic activities for the last three days, dealing a further blow to an economy that is already ailing due to high inflation, falling exports and depleting forex reserves.

The violence centring the quota reform protests and associated curfew are preventing trucks and covered vans from plying on the roads and highways, leading to losses for their operators alongside businesses dependent on them

The responsibility for this bloodshed cannot be avoided by either the government or the university authorities.

There is a serious governance failure in dealing with the student demands for merit-based recruitment system in Bangladesh’s government jobs.

A group of Bangladeshis, alongside a few locals, in Budapest, Hungary, came together to show their support for the Quota Reform Movement.

Honouring freedom fighters should not come at the cost of merit.

It is a well-known fact that politicians seek to retain power once they attain it.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for quota reform leaders to attend court hearings every month as police are “dillydallying” the submission of probe reports in five cases filed against them over a year ago.

Descendants of freedom fighters yesterday took to the streets once again, demanding the reinstatement of 30 percent quota for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters for classes I and II government jobs.

Children and grandchildren of freedom fighters who were demonstrating demanding reinstatement of 30 percent quota facilities in government jobs for them postpone their protest until October 14.

Quota reformists say that their movement was for logical reformation in the civil service quota system, not for total abolishment.

Quota reformist leaders express satisfaction to the cabinet committee as it recommended to abolish the existing quota preservation system in the first and second class government jobs.

A student of Eden College, also a leader of the quota reform movement, is arrested from her grandfather’s house in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj district, police say.

Defying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's warning, Chhatra League men have yet again attacked activists of the quota reform movement.

Chhatra League men are once again blamed for assaulting quota reformists, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina specifically ordered against such aggression.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader says members of the party's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League were warned so that no more complaints are made against them on the quota issue.

Students of Chittagong University’s Communication and Journalism department could not hold their protest programme as they were threatened by the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League members.