As part of the "Bangla Blockade" under the ongoing anti-quota movement, protesters on Monday intensified their actions by blocking several major intersections throughout Dhaka.
Around 4:30pm, students from Amar Ekushey Hall of Dhaka University and Sheikh Burhan Uddin Post-graduate College blocked the Chankharpul crossing and the adjacent ramp of the Mayor Hanif flyover.
This blockage disrupted traffic, creating significant congestion in the area.
Simultaneously, students from Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall and Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University barricaded the Paltan crossing and Sikkha Chottor, further amplifying the impact of the protest.
Adding to the gridlock, other Dhaka University students targeted key intersections, including Shahbagh, InterContinental Hotel, Paribagh, Bangla Motor, and Karwan Bazar.
At the Science Lab intersection, students from Dhaka College and neighbouring institutions established a blockade. Meanwhile, students from Eden Women's College and Home Economics College took a stand at the Nilkhet intersection.
East West University students, along with peers from surrounding institutions, obstructed the Rampura-Badda road, contributing to the widespread disruption.
Students from Govt Titumir College blocked the Farmgate intersection, while those from Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University closed off the Agargaon crossing.
Rajshahi-Dhaka rail link blocked
The students of Rajshahi University (RU) temporarily blocked off the Rajshahi-Dhaka rail link as part of their protest against reinstatement of quota for government jobs.
They had taken a position on the rail line under the flyover adjacent to the university's Faculty of Agriculture around noon on Monday. Students said the movement will continue till 5pm. Due to the blockade, rail link from Rajshahi to the rest of the country has been disrupted.
One of the Leaders of the RU’s quota reform movement, Amanullah Khan said, “We, the organisers, had plans to blockade the railways till 3pm. However, we later made the decision to extend the blockade in response to the requests from students.
Acting General Manager of Rajshahi Railway (Western Region) Ahmed Hossain Masum said, “Dhalarchar Express, Kapotaksha Express – which is headed to Rajshahi from Khulna, and Dhumketu Express – which is headed to Rajshahi from Dhaka face schedule disruptions.
“If this movement continues in the coming days, train schedule disruptions will worsen further.”
Dhaka-Mymensingh rail link blocked
Rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh was suspended for two hours today as students from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway for the third consecutive day as part of the “Bangla Blockade.”
The students, demanding the elimination of what they termed irrational and discriminatory quotas in government jobs, set up barricades at Jabbarer Mor around 1:30pm, halting the Jamalpur Express from Dhaka and disrupting train services.
Train communication resumed at 3:10pm after the students left the rail tracks.
Earlier, at 12:30pm, students staged a protest procession on the campus. During the demonstration, they declared, “From today, we will uphold a single-point agenda: the elimination of irrational and discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs. The quota system must be reformed by passing a law in Parliament to ensure fairness for underprivileged and special-needs groups as outlined in the Constitution.”
The protesters vowed to continue the “Bangla Blockade” nationwide until their demand is met.
