In reminiscence of what was witnessed in August last year, students have taken to the streets again in Dhaka demanding safer roads for all.
Reports of blockades and demonstrations came in from multiple locations across Dhaka city under the familiar slogans of “We Want Justice”.
Along with it, came reports of long tailbacks through multiple points at Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Mirpur Road, Mohakhali, Progati Sarani and others.
The blockade on the gate of Bashundhara Residential, where the university student was run over by a bus yesterday, was placed around 9:30am.
A blockade was put on Ray Shaheb Bazar intersection, Old Dhaka, around 9:45am. This created tailbacks on English Road, Babu Bazar and adjacent areas.
Demonstration was also reported at Shukrabad, Mirpur Road. Tailbacks were seen on Mirpur Road, some roads of Dhanmondi and Satmasjid Road.
CASE FILED OVER STUDENT’S DEATH
Meanwhile, a lawsuit has been filed with Gulshan Police Station over the student’s death at Progati Sarani that led to the outburst of the students.
Victim’s father Brig Gen (retd) Arif Ahmed Chowdhury filed the case last night, Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Bakar Siddique told The Daily Star.
The driver of the bus, who has been arrested, has been made the prime accused while his helper, the owner and contracting firm made accused also.
Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, a road safety campaigner and student of Bangladesh University of Professionals, was run over by a bus at Bashundhara gate yesterday.
Police and fellow students said Abrar was on the zebra crossing when a bus, racing with another, crushed him under its wheels around 7:30am.
AUGUST IN REMINISCENCE
Back in August last year, death of two college students on Airport Road sparked a wave of protests that brought Dhaka reeling to its knees.
The protests, actively participated by students of almost all educational institutions, lasted for more a week and put Bangladesh’s capital on a standstill.
The government was forced to launch special drives and tough crackdowns in an effort to bring discipline on the streets and the transport sector.
Though the effort worked, but only did so for about a month – after which things rolled back on to the same indiscipline what was before.
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