Students of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Gazipura area of Tongi for three hours on Sunday, protesting the death of their classmate Yasin Ali, 17, in a road accident.
The students took position in front of the madrasa and Gazipura bus stand from 11 am to 2 pm, bringing traffic on both sides of the busy highway to a standstill and causing severe congestion.
The blockade was withdrawn after the administrator of Gazipur City Corporation, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) reached the spot and assured the protesters that compensation would be provided to Yasin’s family and a footbridge would be constructed in front of the madrasa.
Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tongi West Police Station, confirmed the development.
The protesting students demanded compensation for Yasin’s family, construction of a footbridge and installation of speed breakers in the area to prevent further accidents. They also called for effective measures to control speeding vehicles and ensure safe road crossings for students and pedestrians.
The students said the area around Gazipura bus stand and Tamirul Millat Madrasa is extremely busy, while there are inadequate facilities for pedestrians to cross the highway safely. They warned that without permanent safety measures, more students and pedestrians could lose their lives in road accidents.
They also demanded an investigation into Yasin’s death and legal action against the driver responsible. The students had threatened to continue their protest unless their demands were addressed.
According to police, Yasin, a ninth-grade student of the madrasa, was crossing the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway near Gazipura bus stand around Saturday evening when a speeding covered van hit him. He was thrown onto the road and suffered a serious head injury.
Police and local residents rescued him and took him to Tongi Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Yasin was the son of Ripon Mia of Neyapara village in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna. He lived with his parents in the Gazipura-Kazipara area of Gazipur.