Barishal Correspondent :
A human chain of general students was held in Barishal demanded democratic reforms of the state along with ensuring the safety of people everywhere with the provision of medical care to the injured in mass movement.
Organised by general students, it was held on Sunday (August 11) noon in front of Barishal Ashwini Kumar Hall of the city.
After the human chain and rally, the students brought out a procession and moved on the main roads of the city. The programme was presided over by Sumi Haque, 2nd year student of Management Department of BM College and moderated by Nahid Islam, coordinator of anti-discrimination student movement at City College. .
It was addressed among others by BM College students Zakir Hossain and Maryam binte Morshed, Barisal Model School and College student Jannat Ara Ria, Barisal Polytechnic Institute student Sohanur Islam spoke under the chairmanship of Raidul Islam Shakib, a student of Siam, Barisal College and Nadi Akter, Isan Islam, a student of Barisal Technical College.
The speakers said, “Hundreds of students were killed and injured in the mass movement for quota reform started from July. In return for the sacrifice of these brothers and sisters, we freed our country by forcing to resign the dictatorial rulers.
In the anti-discrimination student movement, the families of all the martyrs should be compensated equal to their lifetime earnings and state should take responsibility for the full treatment of the injured. The attackers of the student movement should be punished immediately.
The administration should immediately realize their responsibility and restore peace and order in the field. This country belongs to all of us. Election of student bodies should be held immediately in all educational institutions. Political activities of the students should be banned on campus.
All students have to arrange valid seats from first year onwards. Half-fare transportation should be ensured for the students and medical services should be provided through Medical Service Card.
Students are working day and night to control traffic. We are calling on all types of transport workers and passengers and passengers on road to follow the traffic rules.
The student-participants said that it is more difficult to protect than to achieve independence. We must always be vigilant to protect freedom. No party or group including the police will collect any contribution from any person or place including shops, institutions and homes.
No one can practice with firearms or indigenous weapons. Everyone should have full freedom of speech. No one can attack anyone for speaking, forced to participate any rally of any organization forcibly no one will be harassed by the police or arrested for speaking.
The police cannot unlawfully harass or arrest anyone without a warrant. None would be tortured in custody. Motorcycle drills cannot be done to create panic in the area, the speakers told.
Women should be treated with due respect without any sexual harassment, torture or eve teasing. Anyone who does this kind of work will have to face the collective resistance of the students.
People of different religions or ethnicities or standard of life should not be attacked or disregarded. There should be no garbage on the roads, playgrounds, fair transport fares and medical facilities should be ensured for students in every area, the student-activists cautioned.
