Students and employees of Jahangirnagar University at Savar in Dhaka on Tuesday took a stand over the recent reforms in the dependant quota system for undergraduate admissions in the university.
The JU administration introduced a revised policy aiming to limit the scope of quota, but the students rejected the changes, while employees demanded a complete reversal.
According to the revised decision, the university administration has renamed the dependant quota to 鈥榗hildren quota鈥�, restricting eligibility to only employees鈥� children while excluding spouses, siblings, and adopted children.
Additionally, the pass mark requirement has been raised from 35 per cent to 40 per cent, and a dependant can now only use the quota once in a time. However, there was no limit previously.
Another major reform prohibits dependants from being admitted into their parent鈥檚 department, a move aimed at reducing favouritism and abuse of influence.
Furthermore, the total number of admissions under the quota has been capped at 40 students per session, a drastic reduction from the previous 152 slots.
JU students have strongly opposed these changes, arguing that any form of dependant quota is unfair in the admission process.
They demanded its complete removal, stating that public university seats should be allocated solely based on merit.
The JU students also besieged the university鈥檚 administrative building on Tuesday for an indefinite period, pressing home to their demand.
鈥楾he university teachers and employees do not belong to marginalised groups. The reservations are nothing but an unjust to others,鈥� Arifuzzaman Uzzal, convener of the JU unit of Students Movement Against Discrimination, mentioned.
On the other hand, JU employees have announced an indefinite work abstention, demanding the reinstatement of the previous quota system.
They have argued that the revised policy severely limits their children鈥檚 educational opportunities, making it harder for employees鈥� families to access higher education at the JU.
President of the Employee Association, Abdur Rahman, said, 鈥楽ecurity services, transport and estate office operations will be halted as per the strike from Wednesday morning.鈥�
He has also threatened to disrupt the university鈥檚 emergency services if the administration does not comply with their demands.
As students and employees refused to back down, the JU administration finds itself caught between the two opposing groups.
JU vice-chancellor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said that the administration鈥檚 attempt to cease the tension between students and employees continue.
Earlier, eight students of the university went on a fast unto death strike on the campus, demanding abolition of the dependant quota.