Dhaka – Agitated minority students blocked roads at Shahbagh intersection in protest to recent communal attacks in Brahmanbarhia and other parts of the country.
More than 200 hundred protestors started the protests demonstrating around 12:00pm yesterday. They came under the banners of several Hindu student organisations Traffic movement in the area were stopped due to their presence.After eight hours of the blockade, protestors withdrew the barricade at 6:30pm.
They announced to hold country wide protest on November 15 demanding the protection of the minorities.
Priyanka Bose Kanta, a lecturer of the Dhaka University’s law department said, does this blockade prove that Bangladesh is a non-communal country?
The government must prove that they belived in non-communal sprit, she added.
Manik Rakkhit, another student said, it is not acceptable that such communal attack would be repeated in Bangabandhu’s country.
Inspector Abu Bakar Siddiqe of Shabagh Police Station said, as there are three hospital in the Shahbagh, we told them to withdrew the blokacde considering the suffering of the people.
Motor vehicle movement were completely stuck in traffic jams started from the National Press Club, Matsya Bhaban to Ruposhi Bangla intersection, Katabon and on the university campus in the weekly holyday.
As a result, they were taking other routes to the university campus.
The protestors also burnt an effigy of Fisheries Minister Sayedul Hoque who represents Brahmanbarhia’s Nasirnagar in Parliament after accusing him responsible for the Oct 30 attack on Hindu temples and homes.
They demanded his immediate resignation as minister. Some of them were carrying placards against the oppression against the minorities.
According to the eyewitness, hindu students of Dhaka University brought out procession outside the Jagannath Hall around 10am .
The procession marched TSC and Doyel Chattar before reaching the National Press Club.
Several organisations, already present in the location, joined the students’ procession and marched with them to Shahbagh.
Organisations that were holding protests against communal violence outside the Naitonal Museum also joined in. – Staff Reporter
