http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/09/07/d4090701022.htm
Vol.
5 Num 105, Tue. September 07, 2004
Highway blocked for 12 hours over JU student's death
JU Correspondent
A female student of Jahangirnagar University (JU) was killed in an accident on
Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of the university main gate yesterday morning,
sparking massive protest by the grief-stricken fellow students.
Jakia
Sultana Sumi, first year student of philosophy department and resident of
Pritilata Hall, perished on the spot under an export-processing zone (EPZ) bound
staff bus. The vehicle coming from wrong side ran over her at around 8:30am,
witnesses said.
The
incident cast a pall of gloom on the campus. Students barricaded the highway and
vandalised a number of vehicles, halting traffic movement for about 12 hours
from 9:00am to 8:30pm. Thousands of passengers including women and children in
buses bound for or leaving the capital remained stranded on both sides of the
blockade.
Sumi was
waiting for a bus near the Dairy Farm Gate opposite the campus to go to her
uncle's house at Taltola of Khilgaon in the capital as the university was closed
on the occasion of Janmastami yesterday. She hailed from Sadar Ponkobila in
Narail.
The
demonstrators demanded construction of speed breakers at important points on the
road and setting up of traffic police boxes where required.
The
university authorities held an emergency syndicate meeting to take decisions on
the students' demands.
Vice-chancellor
Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman assured the students of fulfilling their demands and
they lifted the barricade at 8:30 pm.
The
protesters warned that if the demands are not met by September 13, they will go
for agitation from the next day.
As
tension and grief runs high on the campus, a large number of riot police have
been deployed at nearby C&B and Bishmile points to avert any untoward
incidents.
Earlier
on Sunday night, two sugar-laden trucks went out of order on the road near the
spot where the accident took place yesterday, affecting normal traffic movement.
Sumi
died 10 minutes after she was run over but no-one came forward to take her to
hospital. This saddened the students so much that they vandalised about 10
roadside shops and set fire to three. They set three buses, four trucks, three
CNG- run three-wheelers and five pick-up vans ablaze.
Sumi was
taken to the university medical at 9:15am where a doctor confirmed her death.
A
disconsolate Koli, Sumi's friend, said, " I can't bring myself to believe
Sumi is no more." Many other students echoed her.
Daughter
of late Sajjad Mohammad Yunus, Sumi came to the campus only 10 days ago and
attended only one class. Their classes began on August 28.
The
university medical centre turned into a spot of mourners as students, teachers
and others thronged it to have a last glimpse of Sumi. Her namaz-e-janaza was
held on Shaheed Minar premises on the campus at around 2:15pm and her body was
sent home in a university bus. She will be buried at their family graveyard
today.
The
university authorities and Savar police filed separate cases.
"We
are finding it difficult to avert accidents here as the home and communications
ministries are yet to meet our repeated requests to take initiatives for this,"
the VC said.
Meanwhile,
seven people including associate professor of English department Kawsar Hossain
have been killed so far in road accidents near the campus. Kawsar was killed on
February 1, 2002.
Highway
blocked for 12 hours over JU student's death
Agitated students of