Quota protesters block Dhaka-Chattogram highway, railway

Quota protesters block Dhaka-Chattogram highway, railway

Chattogram, July 16 - As part of the nationwide quota reform movement, students from International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, halting traffic for hours and causing a 60-km tailback on Tuesday.

Several thousand students from IIUC in Kumira put up barricade and obstructed traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram highway at 10 am, causing severe traffic jam. 

They simultaneously blocked the railway in Sitakunda. 

However, the blockade was lifted around 2 pm after a meeting between the university authorities, the protesters, and the local administration.

During the blockade, some Chhatra League activists tried to drive away the anti-quota protesters, resulting in a chase and counter-chase.

Over a hundred law enforcement personnel were present during the blockade.

Bar Aulia Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khokon Chandra Ghosh said that the IIUC students first blocked the railway, then the highway near the university gate. 

Sitakunda UNO K M Rafiqul Islam said that upon receiving news of the IIUC students' highway blockade, he rushed to the scene and calmed the students. -UNB