Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has requested the agitating students to withdraw their blockades and return to their classes as the government has accepted their demands.
The minister also pledged to take “all necessary steps” to ensure discipline transporters.
His call came after a meeting with the transport owners and representatives of owners and workers at the secretariat on Wednesday.
According to bdnews24.com, thousands of students continued their protests, mostly in Dhaka, for the fourth day after a bus ran over and killed two college students in the capital earlier this week.
Students have made a nine-point demand, including capital punishment to reckless drivers.
“Your demands have all been accepted. I will make sure that all the wrongdoers and the killers get the maximum punishment in line with the law,” the minister said.
“The messages you want to give have spread across the country,” Asaduzzaman Khan said.
The minister urged the parents and teachers to persuade students to go back to their classrooms.
“The protest has created huge public sufferings and virtually brought the city to a standstill. It is not good for anyone. We request that our dear students will withdraw the siege," he said.
The minister said the drivers of the killer buses were arrested and remanded, while the route permit and registration of Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan was cancelled.
"The toughest actions will be taken against the offenders," he reaffirmed.
Referring to the protesters, the Home Minister said, "The demands of the students are logical. We're also in great sorrow over the death of the two students. All of their demands are accepted and the government has taken necessary steps to fulfil their demands."
According to UNB, he said 309 vehicles were vandalised and eight of them were torched.
"Vested groups can instigate to divert the protest into another direction if the movement continues for a longer time...So, we urge the students to go back to their classes," the minister said.
Earlier, the minister attended a meeting with Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, representatives of transport owners associations and workers leaders, the Inspector general of Police (IGP), the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) were present.
