(Dhaka) Students at the university in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, which sparked protests that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, happily resumed classes Sunday after weeks of suspension.
The former government had ordered the closure of all schools on July 16, at the height of the protests against a reform authorizing the return of quotas in public employment.
“Classes have resumed in a festive manner in almost all faculties,” confirmed Mohammad Mahbub Quaisar, a university invigilator.
“It feels so good to be back in class after such a long time,” said Arpita Das, 23, a political science student, “we were in such uncertainty.”
“It’s like during the welcoming ceremony for new students, our teachers welcomed us into class with flowers,” she added.
“Today, I feel like I can go to class freely. We can express ourselves freely again,” added one of his classmates from the same faculty, Kalimulla Al Kafi, 25.
For this official reopening, the university buildings displayed numerous posters calling for “destroying the prison doors” or celebrating the “rebirth” of Bangladesh.
The protests that brought down Sheikh Hasina began in June after the reintroduction of quotas in the civil service, particularly for the descendants of veterans of the country’s war of independence.
PHOTO INDRANIL MUKHERJEE, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
This decision has sparked anger among students, who believe that these quotas were mainly intended to benefit those close to the Awami League, the party of the Prime Minister in power since 2009.
More than 450 people were killed in weeks of protests and violence before the autocratic leader was overthrown.
Sheikh Hasina fled her country in early August, before mobs stormed her palace in Dhaka, and found refuge in India.
A government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has been in charge of the transition until general elections.