Dhaka turns into an unstable city

Normal life being hampered due to ongoing anarchy

Golam Mostafa Jibon : Dhaka has now turned into an instable and unlivable city as various unwanted incidents have now become a regular phenomenon here that hampering normal live of the city dwellers.
City dwellers are experiencing chaos and even casualties almost daily due to reckless driving of different transports. Besides, agitation is still prevailing among the common people over the extended transport fares.
On the other hand, students have got down on the streets and have been staging several demonstrations for the last few days demanding half fare. Several garments’ workers are often staging demonstrations including holding rally and bringing out processions demanding salaries or allowance. Thus, an unpleasant situation is being created in the city with trivial matters adding immense suffering to the dwellers. These issues are also making the residents of the capital panic and frustrated. As the corona has started to ease, the people of the city have lent their hands in working. Day laborers are moving in search of works. At that very moment, people are out on the streets and worried about such unrest in the capital. Extreme unrest erupted in the capital on Wednesday last over two separate incidents. A student of Notre Dame College died tragically after being hit by a garbage laden truck of the city corporation. After the incident, agitating students blocked the road disrupting traffic movement.
On the other hand, garment workers protested in the streets of the capital Mirpur demanding their salaries and allowances. Several workers were injured there due to an attack. As a rumor of a garment worker’s death spread, tension mounted among the commuters in the capital. Garment workers blocked roads at various places. There was unbearable traffic jam in the capital throughout the day.
Death of Notre Dame college student Naeem: Notre Dame College student Naeem Hasan, 18, son of Shah Alam, was crushed by a garbage laden truck of City Corporation. Pedestrians rescued Naeem and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. But, on duty doctors declared him dead. The tragic accident took place at around 12:00PM in the front yard of Gulistan Hall Market.
When the news of Naeem’s tragic death spread, the classmates got angry. They protested in the streets. At first they blocked the road in front of Notre Dame College at Arambagh in Motijheel. Later, they started protesting in front of Gulistan Road and Nagar Bhaban. This caused traffic jam in the whole area.
Paltan Police Station OC Salauddin Mia said, the South City Corporation’s garbage truck that had crushed Naeem was seized and the driver Russell was arrested. A case was filed in this regard, the OC said.
Students protest: Hundreds of students have been staging demonstrations including holding rally, forming human chain and bring out procession in the capital for the last two days demanding exemplary try of the truck driver. Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Fazle-Noor-Taposh also assured the students to ensure trial of the driver, while the students staged demonstrations on the streets yesterday.
Road blockade by garment workers: Garment workers have been protesting for the last three days putting barricade on the roads in Mirpur. As a result, traffic congestion was created across the city causing immense suffering to the commuters. A large numbers of police were deployed on the streets to bring the situation under control and evade further untoward incidents.
Sadia, a BMA garment worker protesting in Mirpur, said prices of all products, including house rent and food, are increasing. But salary and benefits have not been increased. So we have been protesting peacefully for three days now demanding an increase in salaries. Meanwhile, the owner of BMA Garment hired terrorists and attacked us. Three people are undergoing treatment at the hospital. We demand that the employer be brought to justice for raising wages as well as for assaulting workers.
Abdur Rahman, a worker who led the movement, said those who were injured in the attack should be compensated and the attackers should be brought to justice. The protesters claimed that two workers were killed and three others were injured in an attack by the mercenaries on Tuesday. The injured workers are being treated at different hospitals in Mirpur, colleagues said. Additional police were deployed at the scene to avoid any untoward situation as the workers took up position in the roundabout, police said. Traffic was disrupted due to the position of workers on the road. Ordinary people suffer in this. The garment workers also announced to continue their agitations to press home their demands.
Movement on half fare in buses: After the rise in oil prices, there has been unrest in the capital for several days with the increase in transport fares. Every day there are various unpleasant incidents including clashes between ordinary passengers and bus drivers and workers over fares. A few days ago, a bus worker knocked a student off the bus in Rampura. This spread tension among the students. Students in the capital have been protesting in the streets for several days since the incident. Meanwhile, some youths introducing themselves as Chhatra League activists attacked the student movement. In this situation, the students have given ultimatum to the government to introduce half pass in public transport all over the country. If their demands are not implemented within this period, a stern movement has been warned. The announcement was made at a blockade program of various college students including Dhaka College and City College at the corner of Science Laboratory in the capital yesterday.