Ten quota reformists released Tuesday

Ten quota reform leaders and activists accused in different cases filed with Shahbagh Police Station were released on bail on Tuesday.

The documents of their bail were received by the jail authorities and that was why they were let go, Jahidul Alam, deputy jailer of Keraniganj Central Jail, told reporters.

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The ten -- Faruk Hasan, Rashed Khan, Moshiur Rahman, Shakhawat Hossain, Jashimuddin Akash, Sohel Islam, Tarikul Islam, Masud Sarder, Saidur Rahman and Atikur Rahman -- walked out of the jail around Tuesday noon.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Lutfun Nahar Luma, a quota reformist held on charges of “spreading rumours on social media and inciting violence” during the recent student movement for road safety.

Earlier in the day, another Dhaka court granted bail to 29 students, including quota reformists, who had been arrested on different dates over vandalism, assaulting police and preventing law enforcers from discharging their duties. They include the ten released on Tuesday.

Public and private university students in April took to the streets demanding reforms in the quota system in civil service.

At present, 56 percent of government jobs are reserved for candidates under various quotas and the remaining 44 percent for the merit list.

Of the 56 percent, 30 percent are for freedom fighters' children and grandchildren, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people from districts lagging behind, 5 percent for indigenous communities, and one percent for people with disabilities.

Amid countrywide agitations, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 11 announced that all quotas in civil service would be abolished.

But no gazette notification was issued and the protesters began boycotting classes and examinations at all universities and colleges from May 14.

Ever since the quota reformists started fresh programmes to press home their five-point demand on June 30, they have either been attacked by alleged Chhatra League men or got arrested.

In a latest move, the quota reformists on August 12 threatened the government with tougher agitations from August 31, if the gazette was not published.