3 July 2024: Momentum builds as quota protest enters third day
University students across Bangladesh continued their coordinated demonstrations on 3 July, demanding the cancellation of the reinstated quota system
The nationwide student protest against the reimplementation of government job quotas gained significant traction on 3 July 2024, marking the third consecutive day of demonstrations.
What began at Dhaka University quickly expanded into a coordinated mobilisation effort across multiple public universities, as students called for the reinstatement of the 2018 circular that had previously abolished quotas in first- and second-class government job recruitment.
At around 3 pm, approximately 3,000 students assembled near Dhaka University's Central Library. They marched through campus landmarks — Kola Bhaban, Surja Sen Hall and the Vice-Chancellor's residence — gathering momentum as students from affiliated colleges and other universities joined in. By the time the procession reached Shahbagh, the crowd had swelled to more than 5,000.
One side of the Shahbagh intersection was blocked by protesters, who staged a sit-in from roughly 3:45 pm to 5:20 pm. The demonstration remained peaceful, with a significant police presence monitoring the situation.
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"Tomorrow (4 July), the hearing on the appeal against the verdict that cancelled the circular abolishing the quota system will take place. We hope the verdict comes in favour of the students. We will gather again at 11am in front of the Dhaka University Library.
Beyond the capital, students at other public universities across the country also joined the nationwide protests.
Among them were Barisal University students who blocked the Dhaka-Patuakhali highway, Bangladesh Agricultural University students who blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway, Begum Rokeya University students who blocked the Dhaka-Rangpur highway at the Mordan intersection, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University students who blocked the Dhaka-Mirpur road, and Jahangirnagar University students who blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway. Meanwhile, Chittagong University students demonstrated at their main gate.
Before ending the day's protests, Nahid Islam, who was leading the movement, told the reporters, "Tomorrow (4 July), the hearing on the appeal against the verdict that cancelled the circular abolishing the quota system will take place. We hope the verdict comes in favour of the students. We will gather again at 11am in front of the Dhaka University Library.
