Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Thursday extended its full support to the ongoing anti-quota movement of the general students as they feel there is no need for quotas in government jobs except for a limited number of people with special needs.
 
"We gave moral support to the quota reform movement waged by the general students in 2018. We are supporting the movement that is happening now," said JCD general secretary Nasiruddin Nasir.
 
Speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also said JCD believes there should be a final settlement on the issue of quota reform through a democratic movement that the general students are now carrying out.
 
"Our statement on behalf of the JCD is that there is no need for any quota in Bangladesh at this moment except for a very limited number of quotas for people with special needs. This is our official statement. Chhatra Dal extends its full support to the ongoing democratic movement of ordinary students," Nasir said.
 
He also said they hope that the ongoing movement of the ordinary students will be successful by resisting the cadres of Chhatra League and Jubo League.
 
Nasir recalled that the general students waged the movement in 2018 demanding reform in the quota system, not demanding the abolishment of quotas in government jobs.
 
"But the illegal Prime Minister deliberately canceled the quota as an administrative decision without reforming it," he observed.
 
The JCD general secretary said just as the Prime Minister took the verdict on a settled issue of the caretaker government to her favor using the court, she is now attempting to reinstate quotas, which is also a settled issue, through the judiciary.
 
He alleged that the government has provided 12,000-13,000 ruling party leaders and workers at different levels with fake certificates of freedom fighters over the last 10 to 12 years.
 
Nasir said the move was taken to reinstate the quota system by using the judiciary for the benefit of fake freedom fighters.
 
JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib said, "We congratulate those who are on the anti-quota movement. At the same time, we also urge you to raise your voices against the culture of enforced disappearances and murders this fascist and illegal regime has introduced."
 
He also called upon the general students to speak out against India's interference in Bangladesh and in favor of the movement to restore democracy.
 
"I am telling all the leaders of Dhaka College who are leading the anti-quota movement that your college classmate Atiqur Rahman Russell has been subjected to enforced disappearance. We expect that you will also demand his whereabouts," Rakib said.
 
JCD arranged the press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office seeking the whereabouts of its Dhaka College unit vice president Atiqur Rahman Russell. JCD central leaders alleged that Russell has remained missing since he was picked up by plainclothes police in the capital's Azimpur area on July 1.
 
Rakib stated that Russell disappeared without any reason, even though he neither faces any charges nor has an arrest warrant. "We want to make it clear that Chhatra Dal is not afraid. Not a single leader and activist in Chhatra Dal is afraid... Chhatra Dal will take to the streets to find Russell."
 
Speaking at the program, BNP student affairs secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul mentioned that Russell has been missing for 12 days. "We are deeply worried and anxious. Russell's family is also going through a very difficult time."
 
He alleged that the administration and law enforcement agencies have remained silent regarding Russell's disappearance.
 
Bakul warned that they will announce nationwide action programs within the next two days if Russell is not returned to his family without delay.
 
Russell's father, Abul Hossain Sarder, also spoke at the press conference, demanding the safe return of his beloved son.
 
"I have been very sick for 11 days as I can't eat or drink. I have two sons, one lives abroad and another stays in Dhaka for studies. But we now don't know his whereabouts. His mobile phone is switched off. I filed a GD on June 2 at Lalbagh Police Station.... but there's still no trace of him. We approached higher levels of the police, but there are no results," he said in an emotional voice.
 
Sarder mentioned that Russell went missing 11 days ago in Azimpur area of the capital. "I do not know where my son has been for 11 days or what he eats. I want my child back. I do not know what crime my son has committed... I have nothing more to say if being involved in politics is a crime," he added.