5 July 2024: Students announce class boycott amid growing protests
A key figure in the ongoing anti-quota movement for reforming public service recruitment, Sarjis Alam, faced an attempted eviction from Amar Ekushey Hall of the University of Dhaka. A few student leaders vying for top posts in the hall unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) had reportedly tried to force him out on the night of 4 July.
To intensify their campaign across universities nationwide, students under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged sit-ins, protests, rallies and road blockades. They concluded the day's programme by calling for a boycott of all classes and examinations starting from 7 July. Alongside these actions, they also announced a protest programme for 6 July.
On the same day, students from several universities — including the University of Chittagong, Khulna University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj, and Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail — organised sit-ins, protest rallies, and road blockades as part of the movement.
On that day, a key figure in the ongoing anti-quota movement for reforming public service recruitment, Sarjis Alam, faced an attempted eviction from Amar Ekushey Hall of the University of Dhaka. A few student leaders vying for top posts in the hall unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) had reportedly tried to force him out on the night of 4 July.
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"There are organisational directives instructing leaders and activists of the Chhatra League to behave in a tolerant and responsible manner."
According to campus sources, news of the attempt to evict Sarjis began circulating around midnight. This prompted a protest in front of Amar Ekushey Hall, which was soon joined by students from other halls as well.
During the protest, around 1 am, the hall provost arrived at the scene and assured the agitated students that Sarjis would be allowed to continue residing in the hall. Following this assurance, the protesters dispersed peacefully. Sarjis's fellow organisers from the anti-quota movement then accompanied him back to his room in the hall.
