Quota reformists are not militants: DU VC

Amid strong criticism across the country and abroad for terming quota reformists militant, DU VC came up with this comment at his office while talking to reporters at noon.

He said, “I have not said quota reformists are militant rather their activities are like extremist militants activities, so I didn’t mention the students as militants.”     

He also expressed disappointment as news published in the media on Sunday on his speech was fabricated.   

On Sunday, DU VC said seeing a video-clip of quota protesters it seemed to him that their activities are similar to international extremist outfits like Taliban, Al-Qaeda and al-Shabab as their leader Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden used to send their message from secret (unknown) locations’.

Citing another example of militant activities, he said, “Militants always use women as their last weapons. We have witnessed in the last six months that a group of about 20-30 female students brought out processions in women's halls at night indicative of extremist acts,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University’s Bangla department students formed a human chain and demanded justice over attack on one of their fellows during the quota reform agitation.

Nearly one hundred students lined up at the altar of Aporajeyo Bangla with placards which condemning the attack on the victim, Masud Rana.

From the human chain, they demanded trial of the attackers and announced that they will not go back to class and sit for exams until the attackers’ are not punished.

Most of the attacks on quota reformists countrywide have been inflicted allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student front of ruling party Awami League.

Bangla department’s protest came in line with the countrywide protests against the attacks on activists who have been demanding a promised reform of quota system in civil service recruitment.

On July, Masud came under attack near central Shahid Minar allegedly by BCL men for involvement in quota reform movement.  

Students of about 12 departments of Dhaka University on Tuesday boycotted their classes and even exam in some department over quota issue, sources said.