DHAKA, July 18, 2024 (BSS) – State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today said the government wants to find a peaceful solution to the quota reform issue by holding talks with the agitating students.

“We got some positive messages from the press release issued by protesters demanding quota reform. They said they wanted to go back to the reading table. We also want them to return to the reading table,” he said in a statement this afternoon.

The state minister said, according to their press release, the agitators were looking for a solution through visible steps from the government side; and the government also wants to find a solution.

“The students agitating over quota want to find a path of negotiation. The government’s door for negotiation is open too,” Arafat added.

The most positive statement made by the agitators is that they said the platform 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' is not involved in the ongoing vandalism and atrocities in any way, he said, adding that it means they have acknowledged that violence and terrorism are taking place in the name of the movement.

“I thank them for condemning this violence and terrorism,” the state minister said.

“Our statement in this regard is also the same. Hon'ble Prime Minister also said that she believes that the students are not involved in the violence, a third party has infiltrated here,” the state minister said, adding that the agitating students also said the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement platform will not take responsibility if anyone carries out violence during the ongoing movement.

“As the elements of terrorism and violence are visible within the movement, we think that the security of the agitating students is also at a stake. Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also expressed concern in her speech about the safety of students,” Arafat said.

He added: “The protesters have made it clear that no one should try to divert their movement in other directions. That means there is an attempt to divert their movement through terrorism and violence, which is also our opinion and the Hon’ble Prime Minister has also mentioned this in her speech.”

Noting that in this situation, the government is concerned about the security of the agitating students, Arafat said, “We want to move towards a peaceful solution through discussions with the agitating student leaders to prevent the ill-efforts of the third party to gain nefarious goals so that the students can return to the reading table according to their statement”.