Coordinators of the Movement for Quota Reforms on Tuesday said the Supreme Court recommendation largely reflected students demand.
They, however, observed if it was done earlier, the current turmoil situation in the country could be avoided.
Coordinators Nahid Islam, Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah said this at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the afternoon. Some other coordinators also attended the press conference.
The coordinators extended deadline of their ultimatum to the government until Thursday to realise their four demands.
Their demands include restoration of internet service, withdrawal of curfew, reopening of residential halls on university campuses and ensuring safety of the student protesters.
Nahid said we demand a permanent solution to the quota reform issue after ensuring an environment for dialogues and participation of students. He added that an independent commission needs to be formed to monitor and manage quota system in which relevant stakeholders will be part.
Coordinator Nahid said the aim of our movement which began on July 1 was to establish a corruption free, fair and merit based recruitment system in government jobs. During our movement, responsible persons in the government delivered controversial and provocative speeches. Following these, Chhatra League-Juba League leaders and activists and law enforcers suppressed and oppressed students, filed false cases that led to bloodshed situation, Nahid added.
"Later on, digital crackdown was launched across the country by cutting internet service which is explicitly violation of human rights. They enforced curfew and deployed army. Taking advantage of the chaos, miscreants set fire to different state institutions to foil the movement that led to loss of lives and damage to public properties," Nahid continued.
The Coordinators said their movement had no connection with the sabotage and violence. But the government cannot avoid responsibility by blaming political parties.
"From the very beginning of our movement, we invited the government for dialogues. But the government called for dialogues after killing unarmed people on streets. We rejected the invitation. As a result, they picked me up and tortured physically and mentally," Nahid alleged.
"We are feeling insecure," said Nahid who alleged that law enforcers in plain clothes picked him up and beat up mercilessly on Saturday.
Another Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said the government cannot avoid responsibility of violence, sabotage and damage to lives and properties.
"We always wanted a peaceful solution through dialogues. But the government did not do that. It pushed us to destruction," Hasnat said.
"The police, Chhatra league and Juba League cadres killed students and common people," he alleged.
Coordinator Sarjis Alam said no one would have been killed if the government, five days ago, had shown the attitude what they are showing now. "The government cannot avoid responsibility of the situation," Sarjis said.
The Coordinators claimed some of the coordinators of their movement including Asif Mahmud, Rifat Rashid and Abu Baker Majumder are still missing.
Attending the press conference, Asif Mahmuds father Md Billal Hossain said, "I saw on Ittefaq that my son has disappeared. I went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue in search of my sons body. But I did not find him. I want my son back."
