Students of Barisal University have cancelled all quota related programmes due to the institution's closure and the fact that their demand has been met. This announcement was made public by Sujoy Biswas Shuvo, who was leading the quota reform protest at the university.
This announcement was made in this regard at a press conference held on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. in front of Barisal University's administrative building under the banner of general students.
While reading the written speech at the press conference, Sujoy Biswas Shuvo further said that "Since July 1, like general students of the whole country, we, the general students of Barisal University, have been peacefully protesting to demand reform of quotas in government jobs. Following our logical movement, the court ruled in favour of quota reform, and the executive department of the government issued a notification accordingly."
Shuvo also said, "We have always been doing peaceful and non-violent movements. But many of our brothers and sisters were injured and killed due to various untoward incidents across the country during the movement. To be clear, we did not want to be used as a tool for anyone's nefarious purposes. We feel that the solution that the executive department has given to our demand for quota reform has reflected the demands of the students.
Shuvo said, "However, apart from the demands of students across the country, there are some demands in the context of our university. Our demands are:
1. The halls should be opened immediately
2. The general public shall not be subjected to any kind of litigation or harassment in the area adjacent to the university
3. Students should not be harassed by law enforcement agencies at their current and permanent addresses
4. A safe and democratic environment of the campus should be ensured after the opening of the campus and the election of the student's union.
Sujoy Biswas Shuvo said the executive department has accepted our demand for quota reform and published the gazette. "We believe in non-violent movement and demand implementation of our above demands at the earliest. At the moment, due to the closure of the university and other realities, we do not have any programmes. Based on the opinion of students who are protesting across the country, we will inform you about our next course of action. Finally, we strongly express that our common students have no involvement with terrorism or violence, and we abhor it."
The leaders of the Barisal University protesting students demanding the quota reform, Mahmudul Alam Rajib, Sirajul Islam, and Bhumika Sarker, were present at the time.
