Today, students at Jahangirnagar University initiated a hunger strike to demand the elimination of the ward quota. Photo: BSS

SAVAR, Feb 2, 2025 (BSS) - A group of students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) began an indefinite hunger strike today demanding the abolition of the ward quota in the university admission test.

Under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the students started the strike in front of the new administrative building around 11am.

Initially 8 students started the hunger strike. Later more students joined with them. The protesters vowed to continue strike until their demands are met.

One of the protestera Nazmul Islam Limon of the Anthropology department said, "We want a university where students are evaluated only on merit and hard work and where all students would have equal opportunities. 

There will be no discrimination or special advantage to any specific participants in university admission test. By abolishing the ward quota, we can establish fairness in education. Let us together stand for this change and move towards a fair, equitable and merit-based education system, he said.

JU Pro-VC (Administration) Prof Dr Sohel Ahmed said, "We have already made some reforms regarding admission test rules and quota system. 

“Today I met the agitating students and heard about their demands, asking them to consider some logical reforms. We will discuss their demand together with the Vice-Chancellor in the administrative body and make a decision," he said.