A tense situation prevailed at Jahangirnagar University (JU) in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, on Tuesday as university staff, officers and students were at loggerheads over the ward quota system in the admission test.

A number of students brought out a procession on the JU campus around 2 pm protesting the war quota system in the admission process.

Earlier on Sunday, they observed a hunger strike in front of the university’s administration building to press home the same demand.

At one point, they ended the hunger strike after the concerned authorities assured them that their demand would be met.

Later, the JU authorities issued new rules on Monday night, retaining a 40 percent ward quota and requiring aspirants to secure only 40 percent marks in the admission test for admission to the university.

An officer or staff of the university will be able to use the ward quota only one time in his or her life, according to the new rules.

Protesting the decision, a group of staff and officers brought out a procession and staged a demonstration in front of the administrative building around 11 am and demanded the restoration of the previous system in this regard.

They also destroyed some anti-quota posters and reportedly locked into clashes with the agitating students.

Meanwhile, the University Officers-Employees Oikya Parishad announced to go for a nonstop programme from Wednesday to meet their demand.

Besides, the anti-quota protesters hung a key on the main gate of the administrative building after marching through different streets of the university.