Students' stage blockade protesting harassment of BM College student

The students of Government BM College in Barishal blocked roads and vandalized vehicles on Tuesday in protest of an alleged harassment incident involving a female student and subsequent attacks on their peers.  

Around 6:30 PM on Tuesday (January 28) evening, agitated students staged demonstrations near the Rupatali Bus Terminal, halting vehicular movement on major routes. 

The protest followed an incident earlier in the day when a female undergraduate student of BM College, traveling from Bhandaria to Barishal on a 'Tauhid Classic Paribahan' bus, was allegedly harassed by the bus helper over her request for a half fare. The student was reportedly forced off the bus mid-journey after an argument.  

When representatives of BM College students visited Rupatali to mediate the matter, they were allegedly attacked by bus workers. Enraged by this, the students vandalized the bus involved and blocked the roads in protest, demanding justice. The blockade caused significant traffic disruption on the Barishal-Patuakhali-Kuakata and Barishal-Jhalokati routes, resulting in long queues of stranded vehicles.  

The protesting students issued an eight-point demand, which includes: arresting the bus staff involved in the harassment within 24 hours, compensation for injured students, mandatory implementation of half fares for students upon presentation of ID cards.  

On information, police and army personnel arrived at the scene to control the situation. But students declared that they would not lift the blockade until their demands were met.  

Attempts to contact bus workers for comments were unsuccessful.