After clashes between police and Chhatra League in different parts of the country in the last two days, the agitators announced the ‘Complete Shutdown’ program.
The students blocked the railway tracks in Mohakhali and Nakhalpara areas of Dhaka as part of the ‘shutdown’ program of the students agitating for quota reform in Bangladesh. The station master of Kamalapur said that railway communication with Dhaka has been stopped since 12 o’clock on Thursday. Anwar Hossain.
He said, ‘It has created obstacles in the way of trains in Mahakhali and Nakhalpara areas. It is disrupting train movement.
After clashes between police and Chhatra League in different parts of the country in the last two days, the agitators announced the ‘Complete Shutdown’ program.
Due to this program, there has been a public transport crisis in the capital since morning. The working people have suffered greatly.
What Coordinators Said About Quota Movement ‘Complete Shutdown’:
The coordinators of the quota reform movement have called for peaceful observance of ‘Complete Shutdown’ program across the country in protest against logical reform of quota and attacks on students.
They made this call in a statement sent to the media on Thursday (July 18).
The coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement also said that the police-BGB-Chhatra League is jointly attacking the logical and fair movement for quota reform and trying to suppress the movement. Although the student movement was spontaneous and peaceful, the government did not take any visible action. The government has tried to avoid delay and liability with the students by putting the judiciary first. Later, under the guidance of the government, efforts are being made to violently suppress the movement through the law and order forces and party terrorists.
So far over a thousand students have been injured and as many as seven martyred across the country. Students are organizing spontaneous protests in different parts of the country. All universities and educational institutions are forcibly closed and students are expelled.
The coordinators said that police fired tearshells, grenades and bullets at various campuses including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University. Police, RAB, BGB and SWAT jointly attacked the coffin procession in Dhaka University. The government created the situation by attacking the peaceful movement. Students want to return to the reading table.
Visible action from the government could pave the way for a solution. Along with our movement, the way of discussion will also be open. Chhatra League workers and police officers involved in the attack should be brought to justice. Quota should be reformed through legislation in the National Parliament.
In the statement, the coordinators also say that the ‘anti-discrimination student movement’ is not involved in any way with the ongoing vandalism, fire etc. We strongly condemn this. The anti-discrimination student movement will not take responsibility if anyone commits violence in our ongoing movement. We request all not to try to divert our movement into different sectors. Because, this movement of ours is a movement to demand the lives of students.
For the safety of students, parents, teachers and citizens from all walks of life are invited to join the movement. There will be a call to close all office courts during the shutdown. Roads, railways will be blocked. Ambulance, emergency and media transport will remain exempt from the shutdown. Media workers are requested to behave cooperatively.
