Students’ protest at Nilkhet triggers gridlock

Students of seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University on Tuesday blocked the busy Nilkhet intersection in Dhaka that triggered gridlock across the city.

The students of 2015-16 academic session said they went out on the demonstrations seeking holding of special examinations and quick publication of results.

Around 1:00pm more than 100 students from seven colleges gathered at the Nilkhet intersection and blocked the road. They later removed the blockade after more than half an hour. The roadblock triggered severe traffic congestion on both sides of the road from Science Laboratory to Nilkhet and from Azimpur to Nilkhet. Passengers stranded on vehicles were seen in extreme distress.

Abul Hasan Noman, a passenger on a bus of Deowan Paribahan, said, “I got on the bus to go to Asad Gate quickly for office work. But I have been sitting for more than half an hour because of the blockade. I would not have come to this road if I knew of the demonstrations.”

Razia Parveen, a passenger on a bus of Savar-bound Thikana Paribahan said, “I got stuck for the sudden blockade. I have to attend a meeting but I think I won’t be able to reach in time.”

New Market police station Officer-in-Charge SM Kaium said, “Huge gridlock occurred for the students’ demonstration. The protesters called off their programme on assurance of considering their demands. Their demands are being discussed with the administration of seven colleges.”

One of the protesters, Dhaka College student Al Amin said the results of their 4th year BSS examination were published long ago. But those who failed in that particular examination, could not get admitted to master’s courses as the authorities did not arrange any scope for them for retaking the examination, he said.

He said the authorities of seven colleges had reportedly assured the unsuccessful students to arrange to retake the exams but nothing was done yet.

“Today we met the coordinator of seven colleges, Prof IK Selim Ullah Khandaker, but he failed to give a concrete decision that prompted us to block the road,” said Al Amin.