Five km tailback, as students block Dhaka-Ctg Highway

Quota protest

FE Team | Published: July 05, 2024 00:20:54

CUMILLA, July 04 (UNB): 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 until 04:00 pm on Thursday on the both sides of the highway, inflicting woes to the commuters.
Rashed Ibne Nur, a student of the university's Bangla department, said quota system need to be abolished and by keeping 30 per cent 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.
Meanwhile, the students of the Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway for two hours for the second consecutive day on Thursday protesting the High Court (HC) order over the reinstatement of quota system in government jobs.
Rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh remained suspended until 04:00 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 at around 01:15 pm.
They also brought out a protest procession on the campus at around 12:30 pm.
Iran Mia, a student of Faculty of Animal Husbandry, said the movement will continue until the restoration of 2018 circular abolishing quota.
On the other hand, students of Rajshahi University (RU) put up barricade on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway at around 10:30 am.
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.