Despite SC status quo, Bangla Blockade to persist
DU Correspondent :
The students of the country demonstrating on the roads to reform the quota of all grades of government jobs announced to continue the protest on the street despite the Appellate Division’s order of status quo on the High Court’s verdict for four weeks.
After concluding the day-long ‘Bangla Blockade’ on Wednesday, the students said that their agitation will be continued on the roads until the government forms a commission or issues an order regarding the quota reformation as we want an ultimate solution that removes complications with the quota in future.
The protesters pointed out that as per the demand, our movement is not related to the High Court order, but to the executive branch of our government.
Asif Mahmud, one of the main coordinators of the movement, announced today’s program. “Today our students blocked all the major roads and highways of the country and also railways. We will be on the highways till our demand is met. Tomorrow we will observe nationwide Bangla Blockade from 3.30 pm,” he stated.
Sarjis Alam, another coordinator, said, “We demanded the government directly not to the high court. We don’t want to follow or suffer the lengthy process of the high court. If the government or executive department assures us directly, we will leave highway.”
“We are not supposed to stay on highways. It is not our place. We want to get back to the study table soon,” he added.
Following the reinstatement of 2018’s order of the high court, he said, “One month ago, the high court declared that
the 2018’s order that abolished quota is illegal. Again today the same high court changed its decision by reinstating 2018’s order. Students don’t want to play these games. We want a permanent solution of this problem.”
Moreover the students stayed yesterday on the roads and railways for full-day starting around 10 am till evening, resulting the rail communication disrupted from Dhaka to others district and the roads also became standstill.
As a scheduled activity of the quota movement, the students blocked several major roads and intersections of the capital and highways making the impression of the movement stronger than before.
As a result of the student movement, the transportation including bus movement in Dhaka went to a standstill, causing immense suffering for commuters. The city’s dwellers were seen to rush to their destination on foot and ever some were forced to march kilometers.
Dhaka City also saw intense traffic congestion and the vehicles including private cars, buses, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws, remained stranded in a long line and unable to move an inch after wasting hours in the traffic line.
The protesters also took position at the rail crossings of Mahakhali and Kawran Bazar causing and thereby rail communication disrupted between Dhaka to other part of the country. The students sat on the railway line on 11:30am with wooden sleepers on both sides of the railway line, some even slept on the rail line. The rail communication restored as the protesters withdrew their blockade at 5:30.
Apart from this, the Chittagong University blocked Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar railways while Bangladesh Agricultural University blocked Dhaka-Mymensingh railway and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) blocked the railways next to the campus.
However, the students of the Dhaka University blocked Shahbagh to Karwan Bazar crossing and also the Framgate and the adjacent ramp of alleviated expressway. Govt Titumir College also joined with the DU students at Framgate.
Apart from this, a section of the DU students blocked Chankharpul crossing and the adjacent ramp of Mayor Hanif flyover and the Paltan crossing and ‘Sikkha chottor while students of the Dhaka College and nearby institutions blocked the Science lab crossing.
Besides, the students of Jagannath University (JnU) took part at Zero Point in Gulistan and blocked the adjacent roads in this area. In addition, the Jahangirnagar University students took place at front of the main gate of the university and blocked Dhaka-Aricha highways. After full-day blockade, the students left the street and announced to continue protest.
Apart from this, the students of the capital took their position on the roads next their campus and agitated their.
The Comilla University (CU) students also took place at the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, a commercial artery between the capital and Chattogram, and staged a sit-in blocking the busiest highway of the country. Some National University College including Comilla Victoria Government College, medical colleges and private university participated in the blockade.
The students of Rajshahi University along with Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway. In addition, Kushtia University and Barishal University students also blocked the highways adjacent to their campus.
