Demonstrators demanding reformation of existing quota system yesterday staged a “street cleaning programme” at different colleges and universities across the country.

At Dhaka University, around 500 demonstrators, both job seekers and students, gathered in front of the university's central library around 10:00am to stage their prescheduled programme under the banner of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Parishad.

The demonstrators, hanging photocopies of their educational certificates around their necks, swept the road from Raju Memorial sculpture to the Central Shaheed Minar while chanting different slogans.

Hasan Al Mamun, coordinator of the movement, told The Daily Star that the objective of their “street cleaning programme” was to demonstrate the severity of the unemployment problem caused by the existing quota system.  

When asked why they were continuing their movement despite the prime minister's remark regarding the quota system, he said, “The prime minister said that the freedom fighters' quota would stay [intact], but she didn't say that the entire quota system would not be reformed.”

“Through our various nonviolent programmes, we want to convince the premier about our deprivation caused by the disproportionate quota system.” 

Meanwhile, some members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) tried to obstruct the demonstrators from staging their prescheduled programme, alleged Bin Eyamin Mollah, a coordinator of the quota reform movement.

Bin Eyamin said he along with several other demonstrators were taken to Madhur Canteen prior to their programme to meet BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain.

Both Sohag and Jakir, citing the prime minister's remark, asked them why they were continuing their movement as their demands were already met, said Bin Eyamin, adding that Sohag also accused him (Bin Eyamin) of being a Shibir activist.

BCL President Sohag said they asked the demonstrators to meet them for a discussion over their demands. “Actually, people who were labelled as conveners of the movement are not involved in it…,” said Sohag.

Meanwhile, around 300 students of Chittagong University staged “street cleaning programme” under the same banner in front of the university's Gate 1 to.

In Rajshahi University, around 500 students participated in the same programme in front of the central library on the campus.

According to the Facebook group of the platform, “street cleaning programme” was also held at Jagannath University, Govt Azizul Haque College in Bogra, Islamic University in Kushtia, Comilla University and Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.

The platform will hold a “Nagorik Samabesh” at the Central Shaheed Minar on March 31.