After days of protests, Rajshahi University (RU) has decided to end the ward quota system. The university’s Vice-Chancellor made the announcement late Thursday night (January 2) following talks with the students.
The protests began at 10 AM, with students locking the university’s administrative building and demanding the removal of the ward quota. Over 200 people, including staff and two Pro-Vice Chancellors, were stuck inside, unable to leave or get food.
Students had warned that they would shut the university down on Sunday if their demands weren’t met.
After a long discussion, Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib told the students that the ward quota would be abolished. He explained that the change would take effect in the 2024-25 academic year, and the decision would be formalized in a gazette.
Salahuddin Ammar, a leader of the protests, said, “We’re happy that the ward quota is being removed, and the Vice-Chancellor has promised to look into lowering application fees as well.”
Professor Naqib shared, “I’ve personally never supported the ward quota. But now, as Vice-Chancellor, I can confirm that it will no longer be part of the admission process at Rajshahi University.”
The abolition of the ward quota is a big win for students and a step toward fairness in the university’s admission system. It shows how student protests can lead to meaningful change.
Source: Daily Ittefaq
