Students of different private universities blocked the road in front of Jamuna Future Park following the death of a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in a road crash in front of Bashundhara gate of PragatiSarani area in the capital on Tuesday morning.
The victim was identified as Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, son of Brig General (retd) Arif Ahmed Chowdhury of Bashundhara area, and honours 1styear student of International Relations Department.
The accident took place around 7:15 am when a bus of ‘Suprovat Paribahan’ ran over Abrar, leaving him dead on the spot, said Jahangir, sub-inspector of Gulshan Police Station.
Angered by the accident, students from North South University, Independent University of Bangladesh, American International University of Bangladesh and others took to the street and blocked the road, halting the traffic movement from Kuril Bishwaroad to Bhatara.
The road blockade created huge traffic gridlock in the adjacent areas.
The students are chanting slogans demanding capital punishment of the bus driver who was arrested soon after the accident.
Dhaka North City Corporation's (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam went to the area and talked to the protesting students.
While talking to the Mayor the students demanded capital punishment of the driver and building of a foot over-bridge in the area.
The Mayor assured the students of fulfilling their demands.
However, the agitating students set the killer bus on fire around 12:30 pm which was doused by local people.
The students also placed an eight-point demand which include checking of necessary papers including driving license on regular basis, making transport sector free from political influence, ensure capital punishment of the accused driver within a short time, construction of foot over-bridge and speed breaker on all risky roads, stopping plying of unfit vehicles and others.
They threatened that they will continue their movement until they get assurance from the government over fulfilling their demands.
