Staff Reporter:
Students across the country yesterday observed ‘Bangla Blockade’ by blocking national highways and Dhaka’s important intersections for mounting pressure on the government to accept their demand for reforming quota system.
As part of their pre-announced ‘Bangla Blockade’, students of Dhaka College and other nearby educa-tional institutions took position at ‘Science Lab’ intersection, one of the busiest areas, around 2 pm on Sunday, disrupting traffic.
The students of Dhaka University from different halls gathered in front of the central library, paraded the campus and then marched to Shahbag intersection to observe the road blockade progamme in the afternoon.
A group of protesters from Shahbagh marched towards Poribagh intersection near Hotel Intercontinental and another group to Banglamotor intersection, halting traffic and causing huge gridlock on major roads.
Besides, the students of Eden College marched from Nilkhet to Azimpur road. The students from differ-ent dormitories staged demonstration on Chankharpul road and the ramp of Mayor Hanif flyover.
Thousands of students from Dhaka University, Dhaka College, Eden College and other nearby colleges joined the protest programme spontaneously.
However, members of law enforcement agencies were seen prepared with water tanks in different parts of city to tackle any untoward situation.
Some of the students were also seen suggesting others how to of handle situation if tear gases are lobbed. The protesters were asked by the leaders to remain prepared to face any situation.
Amid the severe traffic jams around the city, Metro Rail service brought a little bit comfort for its pas-sengers.
Visiting Shahbag metro station and Kawran Bazar metro rail station, it was seen long queues of passen-gers buying tickets.
Rezaul Karim, a passenger who reached Shahbagh station from Motijheel, said,” I have a patient admit-ted at the PG hospital. It has been possible to reach Shahbagh in short time amid the traffic chaos due to the metro rail service.”
In Cumilla, a long tailback was created on both sides of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway as the students of Cumilla University blocked the highway at Kotbari Bishwa Road around 4 pm yesterday, demanding cancellation of the quota system in government jobs.
Meanwhile, expressing solidarity the students of other universities also joined the protest programme.
Law enforcers were seen taking position on the highway to avoid further trouble.
In Barishal, the anti-quota protestors of Barishal University (BU) blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway adjacent to the main gate of the campus, creating a 5-km long tailback on both sides.
They also chanted slogans protesting the reinstatement of the quota system.
They also warned to continue their movement until their demand is met.
Besides, the students of BM College also put up barricades near the central Bus Terminal with placards and national flags in the afternoon and organised a cricket match there.
Abdur Rahman Mukul, officer-in-charge of Port Police Station, said police are trying to bring the situa-tion under control.
Besides, the students of different departments of Islamic University put up barricade on the Kushtia-Khulna highway for two hours from 11:00am to 1:00pm to press home the same demand.
