Barisal University students blocked the Barisal-Dhaka and Barisal-Kuakata highways for four hours to press their four-point demand, including scrapping the quota system in government jobs and restoring the 2018 circular.
Sujoy Shubh, the coordinator of the student movement at Barisal University, said: “We blocked the highway from 11am to 3pm.”
The blockade brought everything on the road to a standstill.
Huzaifa Rahman, a student at BM College, said: "Although this country gained independence in 1971, today the quota system carries exploitation and discrimination of Pakistani rule. We aim to cancel this quota system and demand that government job recruitment be based on merit."
Students from various educational institutions in Barisal joined a protest against the quota system. Despite intermittent rain, the protesting students engaged in peaceful activities like playing cricket and volleyball on the Barisal-Dhaka-Patuakhali-Kuakata highway.
Additionally, students from different public and private colleges in Barisal showed their solidarity with the movements led by students from Barishal University and Government BM College.
The road blockade disrupted the communication system in Barisal, which connects it to other parts of the country, including the southern region. The blockade lasted from morning to afternoon, causing severe traffic jams that extended for at least 3km on both sides of the highway.
This situation led to significant inconvenience for common passengers and pedestrians, with many vehicles and individuals stranded on the road for extended periods.
Besides, the drivers on the road said every day they are facing great financial loss because our vehicles are not allowed to leave on time.
They also said the price of goods is skyrocketing due to the road blockade.
However, the students allowed ambulances and vehicles transporting patients to pass through the blocked road.