Rajshahi University (RU) has officially abolished its legacy quota system in response to ongoing student protests. The decision, announced on Thursday night by Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib, comes after days of unrest triggered by a recent policy adjustment that introduced a 1% quota for the children of support staff and general employees.

The Vice-Chancellor, addressing the students, emphasized his longstanding opposition to the legacy quota system. “As an administrator, I am bound by regulations and must consider the interests of all stakeholders. However, my stance against the legacy quota has been both logical and ethical, even before this movement began,” he said. He assured that the abolition of the quota would follow proper administrative procedures and take effect this year without delay.

The protests began on January 2, following a meeting of the university’s admission committee, which decided to allocate a 1% legacy quota. This decision was met with immediate backlash from students, who viewed it as unfair and discriminatory. In response, protesters locked the administrative building, effectively paralyzing university operations for nearly 10 hours. Top officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and the university's Proctor, were among those trapped inside the building during the standoff.

As tensions escalated, university officials attempted to forcibly break the lock, leading to heightened confrontation. To defuse the situation, the Vice-Chancellor and senior administrators initiated a dialogue with the protesting students late in the evening. Following the discussions, Professor Naqib announced the complete abolition of the legacy quota and pledged to address other student concerns. The announcement prompted the protesters to withdraw and end their demonstration.

In a parallel development, the university’s Officers’ Association expressed dissatisfaction with the abolition of the legacy quota. The association’s Acting President, Moktar Hossain, stated that they had rejected the 1% quota allocation as insufficient and demanded the reinstatement of the previous 5% quota. In protest, the Officers’ Association has announced a three-day program, including a human chain on January 6, a two-hour sit-in in front of the administration building on January 7, and an unspecified comprehensive action on January 8.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated his commitment to the abolition process, emphasizing that the university administration would follow due protocols to ensure the decision’s permanence. He also sought to reassure the broader university community, stating that the administration remains focused on maintaining harmony within the institution.

As the dust settles, the university now faces the challenge of navigating competing demands from students and staff while ensuring that administrative policies uphold principles of fairness and inclusivity.