Students and locals will not call off their blockade on the road in front of the Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka city, even though Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam have rushed there and requested them.
To talk them into ending the blockade, the mayor told the protesters at 11:00 am that he would construct a pedestrian bridge and ensure that the driver gets the punishment he deserves for the accident.
He also said that measures have already been taken up to cancel the licence of the transport company that owns the bus responsible for the accident.
The protesters, however, were adamant and they remained on the roads.
At 7:30am, a bus of Suprobhat Paribahan that carries passengers from Gazipur’s Board Bazar to Dhaka’s Sadarghat killed a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).
Students of private universities nearby and BUP and locals burst into protests and blocked the road, causing huge traffic in the area.
Police say they have already arrested the bus driver.
The student killed in the accident has been identified as Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, 20, son of Arif Ahmed Chowdhury who lives in Bashundhara Residential Area. He was a first years student of BUP’s Department of International Relations.
The protesters have placed an eight-point demand, including that of bringing the driver and others responsible to justice.
Among other points of the demand are: ensuring new driving licencses following proper procedures, setting up zebra crossing at crucial points with CC cameras and a pedestrian bridge on the road that saw the accident this day.
Extra police have been deployed around the spots of protests to avert any untoward incident, local media reports say.
Calling on the protesters to withdraw their blockade, Mayor Atiqul told them that the driver will be given maximum punishment according to existing laws. No bus of Suprabhat Paribahan will be allowed in the city streets.
Besides, a pedestrian bridge, in the name of deceased Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, will be set up at the place of the accident within three to four months, he said.
The mayor also said all buses will soon be brought under six to seven companies in the city to bring discipline in the city's transport sector.
Addressing the students, he said, “I will take all steps to meet your demand. Withdraw your blockade.”
In reply, the protesters then told him: “Buses of Jabal-e-Noor are still running in the streets. Deaths in road crashes have not stopped.”
After such comments from the protesters, the mayor left the scene.