Train communications between Dhaka and other parts of the country resumed after 6 hours of suspension after the quota protestors lifted their blockade on Wednesday evening.
The rail communications were snapped around 11 am as the quota protesters put up barricades on Karwan Bazar and Mohakhali level crossings in the capital, causing immense suffering to commuters.
Quota protesters’ nationwide Bangla Blockade brings commute to a standstill
Protesting students from different universities blocked the level crossings by placing logs as part of the countrywide ‘Bangla Blockade’ programme protesting reinstatement of quota in public service.
Ferdous Ahmed Biswas, officer-in-charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said the students put up barricades on the level crossing near Karwan Bazar around 11 am, disrupting the train communication.
Tanim Ahmed, a private university student, said their movement will continue till evening.
About the Supreme Court’s status quo order for four weeks regarding the High Court’s earlier order to reinstate the quota system in government jobs, he said, “Quota system needs to be reformed and until that we will continue our movement.”
Protesters gathered at the Shahbagh intersection and chanted various slogans against the quota system, bringing vehicular movement in the area to a halt.
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Besides, a group of students blocked Karwan Bazar FDC point road, disrupting traffic movement.
Meanwhile, students were seen blocking roads in Mohakhali Amtali, Science Laboratory and Merul Badda, halting traffic.
In some areas, commuters were seen trying to reach their destinations on foot.
A huge number of vehicles were seen stranded on roads including Mirpur-10 to Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali Amtali, Merul Badda and Shahbagh in the morning due to the blockade programme.
Jashim Uddin Khan, an owner of a furniture factory in Badda area, said “Every day I used to go to my factory by rickshaw from my Malibagh residence. Today I managed to reach Malibagh level crossing by a rickshaw and it took me half an hour to reach there. Later, I started to walk to reach my destination as the vehicles were seen stranded.”
Mohammad Jabed Ali, a rickshaw puller said, “Till Wednesday afternoon, I carried only three passengers. No one wanted to get on a rickshaw because of the road blockade. Students are not allowing rickshaws to ply the main roads. "
Zahirul Islam, a pedestrian, said, "I did not know about the road blockade. I went to Gulistan and Bangabazar from Savar to buy clothes from shop. But when I came here, I saw the students blocking the roads. Now we have to sit here and wait. “
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Zafar Ali, an official of a marketing company and a resident of Paschim Rajabazar area, said “I went to Farmgate area by a rickshaw and vehicles were seen stranded from Farmgate to Banglamotor area and now I have to go to Paribagh on foot.”
The quota protesters have been observing the ‘Bangla Blockade’ programme in the capital and other parts of the country blocking different intersections in the capital, railways and highway in other parts of the country, causing woes to people.