<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Quota protestors filed an application with the Appellate Division on Tuesday seeking a stay on the effectiveness of High Court order reinstating&nbsp; the freedom fighter quota in public service.<br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The hearing on the application will be held in full bench of the Appellate Division on Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chamber judge Md Ashfaqul Islam fixed the date of hearing this noon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, around 11 am two students of Dhaka University sought permission from the court to submit the application seeking a stay on the effectiveness of the High Court order. Judge Ashfaqul Islam gave the permission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later, the application was filed with the concerned branch of the Appellate Division at around 12:30 pm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The two students are Alsadi Bhuiyan, president of Dhaka University Journalists' Association, and Ahnaf Sayeed Khan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Advocate Shah Manjurul Haque stood for the petitioners.&nbsp; Attorney General AM Amin Uddin was present on behalf of the state.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier on July 4, the HC adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by the state seeking a stay on the High Court verdict as the lawyer of the writ petitioner was not present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then the anti-quota movement spread across the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In such a situation, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters that the quota protesters can appeal to the Appellate Division if they want.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The quota system, which reserved 56 percent of positions in government jobs for various quotas, was abolished in 2018. This decision was challenged in 2021 by descendants of freedom fighters, leading to a High Court ruling on June 5, 2024, declaring the abolition of the freedom fighters’ quota illegal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government subsequently applied to the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division to suspend the order.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On July 4, a six-judge bench led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan heard the application. The Appellate Division upheld the High Court’s verdict temporarily and instructed the state to file a leave-to-appeal once the full verdict is published, adjourning the case hearing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd024/kh</div>