Barisal University students blocked the Barisal-Kuakata highway from early Thursday morning until the afternoon following the death of student Maisha Fauzia Mim, who was struck and killed by a bus near the campus on Wednesday night.
Maisha, a first-year Statistics Department student at Barisal University, was killed around 10pm in the Bholar Mor area near the university.
She was hit by a Narayanganj Travels bus en route from Kuakata to Barisal.
Following the accident, BU students gathered and presented a 10-point demand to Barisal University Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Suchita Sharmin before staging a blockade on the highway.
The students called off the blockade around 2pm on Thursday after assurances that their demands would be addressed.
BU Proctor Rahan Hossain Faisal said that the students' demands included arresting those responsible for Maisha’s death, providing compensation to her family, building a footbridge in front of the university, setting speed limits for vehicles on the highway near the campus, installing speed sensors, improving university health facilities, increasing ambulance services, constructing footpaths, and deploying traffic police in the area.
“All academic and administrative activities have been suspended for Thursday,” BU Vice Chancellor Dr Suchita Sharmin said. "We demand the swift arrest of those involved in this incident. Otherwise, we will take necessary actions in solidarity with the students."
The protesting students agreed to clear the highway after the VC pledged to address their concerns.
Barisal Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (South) Ali Ashraf Bhuiya said authorities are actively working to arrest those responsible.
Barisal Metropolitan Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam reported that Maisha was crossing the road with her hand raised to stop the oncoming bus, which hit her at high speed. She was taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where she was declared dead.
According to BU student Muzahidul Islam, the bus driver attempted to flee the scene after hitting Maisha.
Students pursued and intercepted the bus at Dapadapiya Bridge toll plaza.
While the driver and his assistant managed to escape, students later brought the bus back to the university, where they vandalized and set it on fire before the fire brigade extinguished the flames.
BU Registrar Monirul Islam expressed deep sorrow over Maisha’s death.
“On Thursday, the VC announced a suspension of all academic and administrative activities for the day and accepted the students’ demands. Police have launched an operation to locate the driver and assistant of the bus involved in this tragic incident,” he added.
