A five-km long tailback has been created on Dhaka-Chittagong highway as the students of Cumilla University put up barricades on the highway, demanding the cancellation of quota system in government jobs.
Many vehicles were seen stranded till 4 pm on Thursday on the both sides of the highway, inflicting woes to the commuters, reports UNB.
Rashed Ibne Nur, a student of the university’s Bangla department, said the quota system need to be abolished and by keeping 30% quota for freedom fighters the government is undermining the meritorious students.
Tofazzal Hossain, a bus driver, said he started his journey from Kotbari in Cumilla to go to Dhaka but he failed to move a single inch due to the protests.
Kamran Hossain, additional superintendent of Cumilla Police, said law enforcers including DB police were deployed to tackle the situation.
UNB’s Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) correspondent reports: the students of the university blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway for two hours for the second consecutive day today protesting the High Court order over the reinstatement of quota system in government jobs.
Rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh remained suspended till 4 pm due to the blockade programme.
The students of BAU blocked the railway at Jabbarer intersection after halting the Jamalpur-bound ‘Jamalpur Express’ train from Dhaka around 1:15 pm.
They also brought out a protest procession on the campus around 12:30 pm.
Iran Mia, a student of Faculty of Animal Husbandry, said the ovement will continue until the restoration of 2018 circular abolishing quota.
UNB Rajshahi Correspondent reports: students of Rajshahi University (RU) put up barricade on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway around 10:30 am, protesting the High Court order over the reinstatement of quota system.
The students also brought out a procession from Paris Road on the campus and gathered at the main gate of the university amid rain.
They also chanted different slogans protesting the quota and placed four-point demands including abolition of quota system.
Vehicular movement on the highway remained suspended for three hours till 1:30 pm following the protest.
Besides, students blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection around 11:45 am on Thursday for the third consecutive day protesting the High Court’s decision to reinstate the quota system in government jobs.
Bd pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
