Hundreds of students of Dhaka University (DU) as well as teachers formed a human chain in front of Raju Bhaskarja yesterday protesting the proposed route of metro rail through the university campus.
They claimed that the metro rail would greatly hamper the academic atmosphere inside the campus with loud noise, and urged the government to find an alternative route.
The protesters alleged that the route plan through the campus is also an insult to the memories of Raju, Kazi Nazrul Islam and the three leaders, whose memorials and mausoleums are on the campus.
Speaking at the human chain, economics student Sanjiban Chakraborty said: “We are not against the metro rail project; rather, we appreciate any development of the country. But the route of the metro rail should be built outside the DU campus, not inside it.”
Samina Lutfa, assistant professor at the department of sociology at the university, said: “Metro rail could cause damage to the science laboratories on the campus because the trains will cause extreme vibration. The loud noise will also hinder the academic atmosphere in the university library and the Public Library, not to mention on the campus.”
Tanjim Uddin Khan, professor at the department of international relations, termed the proposed the metro rail route a conspiracy against education.
After an hour of human chain, students brought out a rally protesting the proposed route and marched around the campus.
