4 July 2024: Anti-quota protests intensify following new court verdict

Even though students in Dhaka and across the country had been protesting since the previous month, which gained new momentum since the beginning of July, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 4 July 2024 added more fuel to the fire when it upheld a High Court verdict restoring the 30% quota for freedom fighters' children in government jobs (grades 9–13).

A six-member bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan rejected the government's plea to stay the verdict and asked it to file a leave-to-appeal after the full text of the High Court verdict is released. Earlier on 5 June, the High Court had declared the 2018 decision to scrap the quota system illegal. 

According to reports, during the hearing on the quota issue on 4 July, Advocate-on-Record Md Zahirul Islam, representing the writ petitioners, sought a one-day adjournment as senior lawyer Mansurul Haque was abroad. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin noted that the 2018 circular amending the quota system had been declared void by the High Court. The court advised the petitioners to file a leave to appeal and said it would not interfere at this stage. 

At one point, Obaidul Hassan also remarked, "What are all these protests about? What's going on in the streets? Do you think that by mounting pressure through protests, you can change the verdict of the High Court or the Supreme Court?" 

Following the apex court's decision, students of Dhaka University gathered at Shahbagh intersection and launched fresh protests against the reinstatement of the quota system. Defying rain, they blocked the intersection for the third consecutive day, causing severe traffic congestion across Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar, Nilkhet and other major areas of the capital. 

DU Chhatra League leaders reportedly tried to stop students from joining the protest. Several dormitories — including Surja Sen Hall, Jasim Uddin Hall, Bijoy Ekattor Hall, and Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall — were allegedly locked by BCL activists, who guarded the entrances with motorcycles. 

"What are all these protests about? What's going on in the streets? Do you think that by mounting pressure through protests, you can change the verdict of the High Court or the Supreme Court?" Obaidul Hassan, former Chief Justice

Tensions arose when agitating students forcefully opened gates to join protest processions and accused BCL activists of acting against the movement. However, BCL DU unit general secretary Tanbir Hasan Shaikat denied the allegations.

Elsewhere, anti-quota protests spread across the country. Jahangirnagar University students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for an hour. Cumilla University students staged a blockade on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, causing a five-kilometre tailback. 

In Barishal, protests halted traffic on the Dhaka-Barishal highway. Rajshahi University students demonstrated on the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway, while students of Chittagong University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology also held rallies and sit-ins.

Nahid Islam, central coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination, announced a three-day protest programme, including processions and a full boycott of classes and exams on 7 July.