Barisal University students block highway demanding compensation following classmate death
Photo Collected
Students at Barisal University blocked the Barisal-Kuakata highway on Monday evening to protest the death of their fellow student, Yasin Arafat, who was killed in a road accident. The protesters are demanding 10 million taka in compensation for the victim’s family and disciplinary action against university officials for alleged negligence.
The demonstration began at approximately 6:30 p.m., bringing traffic on the major highway to a complete standstill and causing severe gridlock. As of 8:00 p.m., students remained stationed on the road, refusing to clear the area until their demands are met.
The protest escalated earlier in the day when students occupied the Vice-Chancellor’s office, accusing the university’s proctorial body of failing to respond promptly to the emergency. Yasin Arafat, a student of the Bangla department, died late Sunday night while being transported to Dhaka for medical treatment following a head-on collision between a bus and a three-wheeler near the Dapdapia bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier on Monday, university authorities offered a total of 1.7 million taka in compensation—comprising 1 million taka from the university, and 700,000 taka collectively from the Roads and Highways Department and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). The students rejected this offer, labeling it insufficient and insisting on their original demand of 10 million taka.
Student representative Md. Rajib alleged that the university administration’s delayed response exacerbated the crisis. He claimed that despite repeated calls to the Proctor and Registrar requesting an air ambulance, the administration failed to coordinate effectively, and the student eventually died while being transported in a standard ambulance. Students argued that the incident exposed a lack of crisis management preparedness within the university administration.
University Vice-Chancellor Mamun Ur Rashid defended the administration’s efforts, noting that the university provided 10 million taka, which exceeds the standard policy of 5 million taka, in addition to the funds secured from other government agencies. He stated that the administration attempted to manage the situation within its capacity.
The victim’s body was transported to his ancestral home in Derajan village, located in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, under the supervision of Proctor Mehedi Hasan. The funeral took place at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, following a funeral prayer held earlier at the university campus. Yasin Arafat was the only son of Mohammad Sultan Mahmud Pavel.
Protesters maintain that their agitation will continue until the university holds the responsible officials accountable and secures the requested compensation for the bereaved family. Local commuters and long-distance transport passengers continue to face significant disruptions due to the ongoing highway blockade.
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