Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), blocked the Shahbag-intercontinental intersection for around seven hours on Thursday, demanding immediate arrest of all those responsible for the murder of Dhaka University student Shahriar Alam Sammo and ensuring safety across educational institutions.
The blockade programme began at 10:00 am and continued until 5:00 pm, following a pre-announcement made in a press release issued by JCD's central committee on Wednesday night.
Activists from various JCD units across Dhaka staged a sit-in protest at the intersection, disrupting traffic flow to the capital's busiest areas.
Speaking at the protest, JCD central president Rakibul Islam Rakib said, "Law enforcement agencies have yet to assure us that they have identified the real culprits. We will launch a stronger movement if we do not get justice. We urge the government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation using its highest capabilities."
The blockade caused immense suffering for passengers and pedestrians.
Noyon Hawlader, a student of Habibullah Bahar College, expressing frustration while stuck in traffic gridlock said, "My exam was scheduled for 11:30 am, and I'm still stuck in Shahbag traffic jam at 11:25. Even using alternative routes, it's hard to reach on time."
Ashikur Rahman, a businessman on his way to Karwan Bazar, shared a similar experience. "I explained my urgency to the protesters, but they didn't consider my request. I had to find another way," he said.
Shahriar Alam Sammo, a student of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of Dhaka University and a leader of JCD's AF Rahman Hall unit, was stabbed to death near Suhrawardy Udyan by a group of miscreants on May 13. So far, police have arrested six individuals for their alleged involvement in the murder.
The incident has triggered protests nationwide. JCD's central and DU units have since been staging continuous demonstrations demanding justice.
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