Ward quota abolishment: RU forms probe committee over locking up of staff inside building

The Rajshahi University has formed a 12-member probe committee over the locking up of its staff inside the administration building by protesters demanding the abolishment of the ward quota system last month.

The committee was formed after separate applications from the RU Officers Association, Nationalist Assistant Workers Council and Assistant Employees Professional Forum, reads a press statement issued by the RU Public Relations wing today (10 January).

The committee will be headed by RU's Inspector of Colleges Prof F Nazrul Islam.

The statement, signed by Administrator Prof Md Akhter Hossain Majumder, states that on 2 January, several students and unidentified outsiders locked the gate of the Shaheed Nazrul Islam Administration Building with around 250 RU staff inside.

The three RU employee organisations, in their applications, stated that due to being locked up inside the building several people, including pregnant women and patients suffering from various health complications, fell sick.

Describing the incident as illegal and inhumane, they demanded that the RU identify the "terrorists" and take action against them.

On 1 January, the RU administration reduced the ward quota limit from 4% to 1% and limited it to only the support staff in the face of continuous student protests, led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Following the announcement, the students, led by Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Coordinator Salauddin Ammar, issued an ultimatum seeking the complete abolishment of the ward quota system in RU undergraduate admissions. 

"The movement demanding [removal of] quotas led to the change of a government of the country. Yet, the Rajshahi University administration has maintained an illogical nepotistic quota. The movement will continue until it is completely abolished," Ammar said on the day.

In a written statement that evening, he reiterated their demand for the complete cancellation of the ward quota. He warned that the building would be locked from 10am if the administration did not meet their three demands by 9:50am on 2 January. Students were also urged to boycott classes and join the protest.

As per the announcement, the students locked the gate of the building with 250 university staff members inside at 10:00am on 2 January for 12 hours.

The protesters let the staff out after the university administration decided to abolish the ward quota system.