News Flash
DHAKA, July 12, 2025 (BSS) - The protesting students demanding quota reform in government jobs on July 13 last year issued a 24-hour ultimatum for withdrawal of a police case against them and declared to submit a memorandum to the President on July 14 to realize their one-point demand.
The student coordinators gave the ultimatum at a press conference in front of the Central Library of Dhaka University (DU) on July 13 evening.
They told the press briefing that they would hold a 'mass foot march' towards Bangabhaban around 11am on July 14 to hand over a memorandum to the President to press home their demands for withdrawing the case within 24 hours and reforming the quota system enacting a law in parliament by calling an emergency session.
Hasnat Abdullah, one of the key-coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, said that students from all educational institutions across the country would march to district commissioners (DCs) office in their respective districts on the same day and submit the same memorandum to the president through the DCs.
He said students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, seven colleges affiliated to the DU and other educational institutions in the city would take part in the march towards the Bangababhan.
Another key-coordinator of the movement, Nahid Islam, warned police to withdraw the cases within 24 hours. Referring to a case specifically filed at Shahbagh Police Station against unnamed individuals, he said, "Police claim students caused damage. If that's true, there's no need for anonymous accusations, they can file the case with our names."
On the same day, senior police officials, ministers and Awami League leaders again warned the students, saying actions would be taken if anyone blocks roads.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader labeled the students' demands and statements as contrary to the constitution and the fundamental principles of state governance.
Besides, the then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal urged the protesters to end their movement and avoid blocking roads.
Meanwhile, Harun-Ur-Rashid, the then Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, warned that if anyone causes damage to public lives or properties in the name of protest, or if roads are blocked, law enforcement will take appropriate action.
In contrast, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas expressed support for the student movement, saying their demands were just. He alleged that the government was employing diversionary tactics to suppress the protest.
Also on July 13, student protesters carried out day-long outreach campaigns at Jahangirnagar University (JU) in support of their demand for quota reform.
Later that night, around 8 pm, students announced a new 38-member Coordination Committee to lead the protest at JU. The committee includes 24 students from different academic batches as coordinators and 14 as assistant coordinators.
Elsewhere, in Rajbari, students held a sit-in protest on the railway tracks in front of the Rajbari railway station as part of the nationwide demonstration. During the protest, they blocked the Dhaka-bound "Madhumati Express" train.
