Since the beginning, the anti-quota movement has attracted thousands of public university/college students and job seekers. As part of the nationwide anti-quota movement, students demanded reforms to limit the quota in government jobs to 5% for unprivileged communities. However, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Saddam Hossain, on 11th July, warned the protesters, saying the BCL would fight anybody using the movement for political advantage.
Earlier in the day (12th July), as a part of the “Bangla Blockade” program, the demonstrators started blocking important spots in Dhaka at 5:20 PM and ended at 6:20 PM, after an hour-long protest. Under the banner of the “Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement,” the protestors organized a rally at the University of Dhaka (DU) campus before moving to Shahbagh.
A procession of Dhaka College students also joined the protest around 5:45 pm. They allowed emergency vehicles, like ambulances, to pass during the blockade. After students gathered near BSMMU, police barricaded Shahbagh, leading to a confrontation. During this time, two Somoy TV journalists, Twoha Khan Tamim (reporter) and Prince Arefin (photographer) were attacked, and protestors started chanting “Bhua” (fake).
Amid the ongoing demonstrations, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner, Habibur Rahman, issued a harsh warning to demonstrators. On 12 July 2024, the DMP pointed out that any violation of the law would result in legal consequences. This warning came in the middle of ongoing rallies demanding reforms to the government jobs’ irrational quota system.
On this day, the DMP commissioner made a clear statement that if the protesters violated any court orders, the law enforcement authority would take a tough step.
In light of the Appellate Division’s one-month status quo on the High Court’s judgment, Habibur Rahman emphasized the need to respect the judiciary while also warning of the legal consequences of violating the law.
“There is an obligation to obey the court’s order. If anyone does anything that breaks law and order, it will not be tolerated,” he addressed while speaking virtually at the Walton-CRAB Sports Festival-2024 and Fruits Festival in Segunbagicha. He further added that the high court considered the quota debate sincerely and urged the protesters and job aspirants to have faith in and be patient with the court’s decision-making process.
Joining the event virtually, social welfare minister Dipu Moni urged for a balance during this ongoing unrest and tension. She asked media professionals to report disinformation accurately and emphasized the need for investigative journalism to uphold the truth.
Asaduzzaman Khan, the sitting Home Minister, took a strong stance against the students, claiming that they were crossing the line. While asked about the government’s actions regarding continued protests, he said, “They are educated and intelligent. Why would they go against the state? They should observe the situation and return.”
On July 12, rail communication with Rajshahi was disrupted for four hours as Rajshahi University (RU) students blocked railway tracks near Station Bazar around 5:00 PM. The blockade was the result of reported attacks on protesters on the previous day (11th July). Two trains, including the intercity Tungipara Express and Pabna-bound Dhalarchar Express, were delayed due to the blockade.
Meanwhile, in Cumilla and Chattogram, over the duration of the four-hour-long blockade in these two districts, there were a few incidents of clashes and chases. In Cumilla, at least 10 students were injured. Two journalists called Anon and Sourav from Cumilla University got hurt as the police charged batons at the protesters.
When speaking to The Daily Star, CGH director Fazle Rabbi said, “Of the injured, six were released after treatment at the Cumilla General Hospital while the rest were undergoing treatment there.”
There have been reports of police seizing banners from the rallies in Tigerpass, Chattogram. In separate clashes with the police in Gate No-2 and Tigerpass, at least five protesters got hurt in Chattogram.
Aside from rallies during the day, students from Jahangirnagar University took part in a torch march in the evening to protest against attacks on demonstrators around the country.
At the end of their 12th July event, the quota reform protesters announced a coordination meeting of students from universities and colleges across Bangladesh on the next day (13th July). Around 6:20 pm, Abu Baker Majumdar, a DU student and one of the coordinators of the “Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement,” made the declaration after Friday’s protest rally and blockade at Shahbagh.
“We will have an online and offline representative meeting tomorrow (Saturday) in all universities and districts. Then we will hold a press conference in front of Dhaka University central library at 6:00 pm to announce our next programs. The government must take into account our one-point demand,” he said.
Students declared to continue protesting until the policymakers implement a law to reform the quota system.
Coordinators Abdul Kader and Mahin Sarkar also emphasized their one-point demand to end “quota discrimination.” Organizers of RU also announced symbolic representative meetings across their campus on the next day to outline further steps regarding the movement. Indeed, these protests were the reflection of alleged attacks on the previous “Bangla Blockade” demonstrations across the country.
