The protestors students will also observe 'Bangla Blockade' program across the country today demanding reform of quota system in government jobs. The program will begin at 3:30 pm.
Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced the program before lifting the blockade from Shahbagh intersection at 7:30 pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, for the third consecutive day, students demanding the cancellation of quotas in government jobs have intensified their Bangla Blockade program, severely disrupting transportation and daily life across Dhaka.
Protestors blocked several key railway lines and crucial points in the capital from the morning, causing widespread traffic jams and public inconvenience.
Major roads such as Panthapath, Green Road, Sonargaon Road, and Tejgaon were completely shut down, leaving hundreds of small vehicles stranded.
The blockade’s impact extended to every neighborhood and alley, significantly escalating public suffering.
Afroza Begum was stranded at FDC crossing in Karwan Bazar. She took her mother Saleha Begum to National Institute of Ear, Nose And Throat in Tejgaon for seeing a physician. They came to Karwan Bazar intersection walking all the way from Tejgaon.
“We’ll go to Dhanmondi. They did not allow our CNG. My mother had a tough time walking. Now we will take a rickshaw if possible, or walk as far as we can,” Afroza said.
A bus of Bihanga Paribahan was stranded in the barricade. Bus’ driver Md Joynal took off his shirt and was using the cloth as a fan. He said he has been stranded here since 11:30am. Although the passengers got off the bus, Joynal could not even turn away his vehicle.
Jasim Uddin was walking to a hospital at Dhanmondi from Kamrangir Char. Talking at Science Lab intersection, Jasim said he suffered a lot to come all the way as he is ill.
The motorcycle riders were pleading the protesters to allow them to go ahead. Md Yunus was returning to Lalbagh after applying for a visa at the Indian Visa Center in Bashundhara. Yunus got stuck with the bike at Karwan Bazar intersection. He said, "The government has to solve the demands of the students. We have been suffering for a few days now.
The stranded people were trying to talk with the demonstrators, but the organisers were barring the protestors from talking with anyone on loudspeakers.
ZH
