School students demonstrate on Dhaka-Barishal-Kuakata highway demanding justice for classmate’s death
The protest snapped road communication in various parts of the city along with the highway, which caused immense suffering to the commuters
Students of a school in Barishal today (4 December) staged a demonstration by blocking the Dhaka-Barishal-Kuakata highway, demanding justice for the death of a classmate in a road accident.
Students of Baptist Mission Boy's High School staged the demonstration around 10:30am, seeking justice for the death of seventh grader Md Mahmudul Hasan Ohi.
During the protest, the students put forward various other demands, including speed breakers in front of every school in the city as well as prevention of illegal vehicles and illegal parking on the streets.
The protest snapped road communication in various parts of the city along with the highway, which caused immense suffering to the commuters. Vehicular movement returned to normal after the students lifted their blockade one and a half hours later, getting assurance of necessary steps from the administration.
Sazaad, a student who took part in the protest, said, "Ohi went to the stadium for a cricket academic class after attending an exam at the school. An army vehicle hit him from behind while he was returning home. He died after he was taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital."
Sourav, another student, said, "People can't move on the street freely due to illegal vehicles and illegal parking. Many small shops have sprouted on the street stretching from Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital to the launch terminal. We have demanded safe roads as the streets have become narrow due to these shops. We have moved away from the street around 12pm as police have assured us of taking necessary steps to solve these problems."
"Band Road is a street in the middle of the city where vehicles do not comply with speed limits. This is the reason why our classmate became the victim of a tragic death. We demand exemplary punishment so that no other person dies due to carelessness of drivers," Sourav added.
Around 5pm yesterday (3 December), Ohi was killed when an army vehicle hit him from behind in front of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.