Anti-liberation quarters are trying to fish in troubled waters in the name of quota reform agitation, claimed an organisation of freedom fighters yesterday.

“Muktijoddha Moha-Shomabesh Bastobayon Parishad” held a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the capital and announced that it will hold a mass gathering at Shahbagh with this statement on April 24.

“The freedom fighters cannot sit idle while anti-liberation forces are trying to catch fish in troubled waters in the name of the quota reform movement,” said Principal Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, convener of the parishad.

The anti-liberation forces have very cleverly spread misperceptions among the innocent students and youths in the name of the so-called quota reform movement, he alleged.

“You may not respect the freedom fighters, but do not disrespect them,” he said.

The organisation urged all freedom fighters and patriots to unite and “resist the conspiracy” against the independence of the country.

On February 17, students under the banner of “Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad” launched the movement over a five-point demand, including reducing the quota privilege to 10 percent from the current 56.

The movement turned violent on April 8, after police action against the protesters. At least 100 people were injured and several others detained as violence flared up in Shahbagh and its adjacent areas.

On April 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament announced scrapping of the quota system and asked students to end the quota reform demonstrations.