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Protesting students demand half fare, block city roads again

UNB . Dhaka
29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 | Update: 29 Nov 2021 00:08:41

Protesters from a number of colleges hold demonstration at the capital’s Dhanmondi 27 intersection on Sunday against the recent death of a Notre Dame College student, and demanding 50 per cent discount in city bus fares – Rajib Dhar

Several hundred students took to the streets in the capital again on Sunday demanding government measures to ensure road safety and half fare for them in public transports.

Students from different colleges gathered in front of Rapa Plaza in Dhanmondi area around 12 pm and put barricades on the road to press home their demand.

Students voiced against chaos in the transport sector after a recent hike in transport fares following the rise in fuel prices and the death of a Notre Dame College student after being hit by a Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) vehicle.

The blockade enforced by the protesters suspended transportation on Mirpur for one hour, causing immense sufferings to commuters, said Ikram Ali Mia, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station.

Apart from that, students staged demonstrations in the city’s Uttara, Shantinagar and Rampura areas to push for the same demand.

Traffic inspector of Uttara Akter Hossain said students from different colleges took to the streets at noon, later, they removed their blockade after a while.

Meanwhile, BNP also extended its support to the students demanding half bus fare for them, and urged the government to take steps to meet their demand.

“We extend our full support to the demand of the students. We demand that steps be taken to provide them with half passes by reducing the fare. The government can provide subsidy, if necessary, in this regard,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a rally on Sunday.

The students have been staging demonstrations since November 18 demanding half fares in public transport for students. The death of Notre Dame College student Naim Hasan, who was killed in an accident in Gulistan area of the city on November 24, triggered the movement.

Earlier on November 20, students from two colleges vandalised 10-12 buses in Science Laboratory area demanding half fare in the city for students.

On November 18, hundreds of students of Dhaka College demonstrated outside their college to press home the same demand.