Road Safety: Cops foil hunger strike by students

Police have foiled the hunger strike by agitating students demanding half fare at all public transport across the country and safe roads yesterday.

Witnesses said a group of students gathered inside the Jatiya Press Club under the banner of "General Students" around 12:15pm and started marching towards the secretariat from there.

Around 12:30pm, the agitating students assembled in front of gate-2 of the secretariat to hold their pre-announced programme, when police came in to remove them from the spot and snatched their banners.

Later, police brought them back in front of the press club. At that time, students were shouting slogans in favour of their nine-point demand to ensure half fare, road safety and justice for the victims.

One of the students -- Mohidul Islam -- said, "We have rejected the gazette notification on half bus fare. We demand half fare at buses, train, launch and metro rail without any condition." According to Mohidul, police didn't allow them to hold the hunger strike in front of the secretariat, saying that there was "VVIP movement" in the city.