Students from seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University (DU) blocked the Science Lab intersection on Tuesday demanding the formation of a commission to establish a fully autonomous public university for the colleges, which brought traffic to a halt around Science Lab, Nilkhet, and Mirpur Road, causing severe congestion across the capital Dhaka.
Around noon, over 100 students from the seven colleges gathered in the area to press home their demand.
The blockade prevented all vehicles from passing through the Science Lab and Nilkhet intersections.
However, emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire services, and police vehicles are allowed through.
Frequent student blockades have sparked frustration and discomfort among the public, with many expressing resentment over the latest disruption.
Some complained that the roadblocks are an unnecessary hardship for the general public.
Md Saiful Islam, a Savar-bound bus passenger, said: "I boarded the bus at Sadarghat in the morning, heading to Nabinagar. It is noon now, and I am still stuck at the Science Lab intersection. After struggling through traffic for an hour and a half, I found that students are blocking the road."
He added: "Traffic in the city is already worse than before, and students blocking roads whenever they protest is extremely frustrating. We need to move beyond this culture, as it only adds to the difficulties for ordinary people."
With the road blocked, many bus passengers were seen walking to their destinations.
One of them, Nishat Jahan, 36, said: "I got on a bus from Bangshal at 11am, heading to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi for a doctor's appointment. I got stuck at Shahbagh, then switched to a rickshaw, but it could not move either, so I started walking."
Jakaria Bari Sagar, a representative of the protesters and a student of Kabi Nazrul College, said: "We apologize for the public inconvenience, but we have endured hardship for the past seven years without resolution."
"We will not back down until a university transformation commission is formed to meet our demands," he added.
