Hill Voice, 17 September 2026, Special Correspondent: On the occasion of the Education Day, processions and student rallies were held in the capital city Dhaka, Bandarban, Chittagong University (CU) and Rangamati, demanding the reinstatement of 5% quota for indigenous people in all higher education institutions and government jobs in the country, along with the abolition of the ‘proxy teacher’ hiring system in primary schools of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and the elimination of corruption and irregularities in teacher recruitment.
Yesterday, on 17 September 2026, the processions and student rallies were organized by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students’ Council (PCP) and the Hill Women’s Federation (HWF).
Dhaka University:
Procession and student rally were organized jointly by the Dhaka City branches of PCP and HWF at the Oparajeyo Bangla premises of Dhaka University. After the rally, a procession marched around the Arts Faculty Building (Kala Bhaban) and concluded at the designated spot.
Presided over by Chandrika Chakma, President of HWF Dhaka City Branch, and moderated by Hlamongching Marma, General Secretary of PCP, the rally was addressed by Anik Kumar Das, President of the Socialist Student Front, Dhaka City Committee; PCP leaders Konej Chakma and Carrie Chakma; Swagato Mro, a leader of GASU; and Tumpa Hajong from the Indigenous Youth Forum.
Speakers stated that education has become a commercial commodity today, and the education system in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has fallen into an extremely vulnerable state. Allegations were also made that the education system has been often being interfered undemocratically as still not holding the elections of the Hill District Councils as per the Accord. From the rally, a four-point demands was raised, including the reinstatement of the 5% quota, an end to the proxy teacher system, the elimination of recruitment corruption, and the construction of proper infrastructure.
Bandarban:
Organized by the PCP’s Bandarban Government College branch, a procession and rally were held at 10:00 AM in the Bandarban Press Club premises. Roni Tripura, President of the branch, presided over the event. Biton Tanchangya from the Tanchangya Student Welfare Forum, Ringyong Mro from the Mro Student Association, and other student leaders addressed the rally.
The speakers demanded the reinstatement of the 5% quota for indigenous students and called for an end to the teacher crisis and irregularities in the remote hilly regions.
Chittagong University:
At a rally organized by the PCP’s CU branch at the university’s Intellectual Memorial (Buddhijibi Chottor), Ribeck Chakma, General Secretary of the branch, and Anuttar Chakma, leader of the Student Union, spoke among others.
The speakers presented several demands to the university administration, including increasing the research budget, resolving the housing crisis, adding more carriages to shuttle trains, and establishing an Indigenous Language Research Institute. Additionally, they urged the government to ensure primary education in mother tongues and reinstate the 5% quota.
Rangamati:
In Rangamati, a procession started from the Kumar Samit Roy Gymnasium premises and ended in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office, where a student rally was held.
Chaired by Suman Chakma, President of the PCP’s Rangamati District Branch, the rally was addressed in solidarity by Advocate Dipan Chakma; Antar Chakma, Central General Secretary of PCP; Kavita Chakma, HWF leader; and student Marine Tripura.
Speakers demanded an immediate halt to using the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a ‘punishment zone’ for government officials and strongly urged the full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. Following the rally, memorandums were submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council.
