Photo: Collected
Barishal University students blocked Barishal-Kuakata highway for the second consecutive day, demanding justice for the death of a fellow student in a bus accident.
The protest began at 10:30 am on Thursday, effectively halting road traffic on this major route that connects the capital Dhaka to the coastal tourist destination Kuakata, as well as to the districts of Patuakhali, Barguna, and Bhola.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road near the university, causing significant disruption and hardship for regular commuters.
Earlier, on Wednesday around 8 pm, a Narayanganj Paribahan was travelling from Patuakhali to Dhaka via Barishal and crashed over Maya Fauzia Mim, a student of the university.
Following the incident, the bus driver fled, but students managed to seize the bus, later setting it ablaze around 11:00 pm.
That night, the students maintained a blockade on the road until 2:00 am.
One of the protesting students, Bhumika Sarkar, said that the accident occurred due to the driver’s reckless speed despite the area being a university zone.
The students are demanding compensation for Mim’s family, the construction of an overpass near the campus, and the arrest of the driver and his assistant. They pledged to continue the protests until these demands are met.
Meanwhile, an army team reached the area to help manage the situation.
Rafiqul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge of Bandar Police Station, said that discussions are ongoing between the university administration and the protesting students to resolve the matter.
Messenger/Fameema
