Students from various private universities including North South University, Brac University, and Independent University, Bangladesh, have blocked the Merul Badda road and the road in front of Jamuna Future Park, demanding quota reform and protesting attacks on students across the country on Tuesday.
Students of Brac University blocked the road in Dhaka’s Merul Badda around 10:30 am. They first blocked one side of the road. Later, they blocked both sides and continued protesting.
An officer from the traffic department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, wishing to remain anonymous, told UNB that due to the students’ blockade, the road from Rampura Bridge to Kuril Bishwa Road is closed in both directions.
As a result, vehicles going through Banasree, and heading towards Notun Bazar, Badda are stuck in a long traffic jam. Therefore, many are choosing Hatirjheel and Badda Link Road as alternative routes, said the police official.
He also mentioned that in front of Jamuna Future Park, students from NSU, IUB, East West University and a few other universities started protesting at 11:50 am, resulting in road closures on both sides.
Meanwhile, students also blocked the road in the Notun Bazar area, but they moved away later, added the police official.
Prime-Asia University students took position on Banani Road at 12pm, halting traffic completely in the Banani neighbourhood.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Banani Police Station Kazi Shahan Haque said, “The students have blocked the road in Banani.” They are being urged to move from the road.”
Students have been staging demonstrations blocking Jatrabari crossing since quarter to twelve.
OC (Officer-in-Charge) Abul Hossain of Jatrabari Police Station stated that when the demonstrators took position at the Jatrabari crossing at twelve o’clock, traffic came to a standstill.”
Students from various private universities and colleges blocked Mouchak intersection in the afternoon, halting traffic in the adjacent areas including Malibagh, Moghbazar and Shantinagar for one hour.
Meanwhile Students from IUBAT, World University, and several institutions blocked the main road in front of the BNS Centre in Dhaka’s Uttara in support of the protest.
OC Dhaka Railway Police Station Ferdous Biswas said protesters put barricade on the level crossing at Mohakhali at around 2 pm. Since then, rail communications with Dhaka have been cut off.
