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Students withdraw road and rail blockades after five hours
Published : Tuesday, 3 November, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Observer Online Report
Students of the International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) withdrew their blockade of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway and railway line in Sitakunda after nearly five hours on Tuesday, following assurances from the district administration over their six-point demands.
The blockade was staged after a female student was killed when a minibus overturned after being hit by a lorry near the university's main gate in the Kumira area around 9:30 AM.
The deceased, identified as Maisha Mushfirat, was a second-year student of the university's English department. She was the daughter of Sakhawat Hossain and hailed from Bortakia in Khaiyachhara union of Mirsarai upazila.
According to eyewitnesses and local sources, Maisha and a fellow student were waiting for a local bus beside the highway when a lorry, while attempting to overtake another lorry, hit a minibus from behind. The minibus overturned onto the students standing beside the road.
Several people, including Maisha, were seriously injured. Locals rescued them and took them to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Maisha dead. Three others, including a student named Raziya, were injured.
University Proctor Professor Mostafa Munir Chowdhury said two injured students were taken to hospital, where Maisha was declared dead. Another injured student received initial treatment at a private hospital.
The university suspended all classes on Tuesday following the incident.
Protesting the death, students blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway around 11:00 AM and halted train services by placing tree trunks on the railway line.
They said they had long been demanding a foot overbridge in front of the university's main gate, but no effective steps had been taken. They argued that the absence of a safe road-crossing facility had left students exposed to such accidents.
The blockade caused severe disruption to road and rail communications. According to Baro Auliya Highway Police Station Sergeant Shafiul Islam Shuvo, traffic congestion stretched for around 30 kilometres on both sides of the highway.
Sitakunda Railway Station Master Nizam Uddin said the Mahanagar Provati train from Dhaka was stranded at Sitakunda station, while the Mahanagar Express from Chattogram was held at Faujdarhat station. Train services resumed after 4:00 PM.
District Commissioner Zahidul Islam visited the scene and held talks with the students. He said he had contacted the relevant ministry secretary and Roads and Highways Department officials regarding their demands and would take written initiatives to ensure the construction of a foot overbridge in front of the university.
He also assured the students that the lorry driver involved in the accident would be arrested and that necessary safety measures would be taken along both sides of the highway.
The students withdrew the blockade around 4:00 PM after receiving the assurances. However, it took further time for traffic to return to normal.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
