Barishal: Barishal University students blocked the Barishal-Kuakata highway for the second consecutive day, demanding justice for the death of a fellow student in a bus accident. The protest began at 10:30 am on Thursday, effectively halting road traffic on this major route that connects the capital Dhaka to the coastal tourist destination Kuakata, as well as to the districts of Patuakhali, Barguna, and Bhola.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the protest has led to hundreds of vehicles being stranded on both sides of the road near the university, causing significant disruption and hardship for regular commuters. The incident that sparked the protest occurred on Wednesday around 8 pm, when a Narayanganj Paribahan bus traveling from Patuakhali to Dhaka via Barishal crashed over Maya Fauzia Mim, a student of the university.
Following the accident, the bus driver fled the scene, but students managed to seize the bus and set it ablaze around 11:00 pm. That night, they maintained a blockade on the road unt
il 2:00 am. The students, led by Bhumika Sarkar, claim that the accident was due to the driver’s reckless speed despite the area being a designated university zone.
The protesting students are demanding compensation for Mim’s family, the construction of an overpass near the campus, and the arrest of the driver and his assistant. They have pledged to continue the protests until these demands are met. In response to the escalating situation, an army team has reached the area to help manage the situation.
Rafiqul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge of Bandar Police Station, stated that discussions are ongoing between the university administration and the protesting students to resolve the matter.