Students of seven government colleges affiliated to Dhaka University blocked the Nilkhet intersection on Saturday morning in protest against the government's decision to suspend exams. Over 100 students took to the streets around 9am and staged demonstrations for nearly two hours, disrupting morning rush-hour traffic in the busy area. A student, who did not wish to be named, told UNB that they were not intimated about the suspension of their exams earlier and they came to know about the same only after reaching the test centers. After staging their protest till 11am, the students went to the Dhaka University campus to meet the controller of exams. Later they went to meet the Eden College authorities at the controller's request. READ: Job seekers block city roads demanding extension of age limit for govt job Government Bangla College student Rabeya said, "We blocked the busy Nilkhet crossing to protest the sudden suspension of our exams." Vehicular movement on the busy road remained halted for two hours following the protest, causing immense sufferings to commuters. READ: Students block Rampura road protesting SSC examinee’s death in road crash Earlier on Friday, the government announced the closure of all schools, colleges and universities of the country from January 21 to February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.

Hundreds of garment workers on Saturday blocked the busy Dhaka-Gazipur Road, demanding the immediate release of their salaries and other dues. The workers of ‘Style Craft Garment’ took to the streets in the morning, disrupting traffic on the busy route. The road soon witnessed a long tailback, causing inconvenience to hundreds of commuters. Also read: Garment workers demonstrate in Gazipur for wages The protesters claimed the factory management has not paid them salaries for the past seven months. Some 700 people work in the factory. On information, Industrial police soon rushed to the spot and pacified the protesters who finally dispersed around noon owing to the abrupt monsoon rains. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the factory area to avert further trouble, said Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. Also read: Pay wages, bonus and arrears of the workers within July 19: Monnujan

Traffic movement on the key Shyamoli road remained suspended for two hours when readymade garments workers staged demonstration demanding salary hike.