Former Chhatra League Leader Nishita Nodi Arrested
Police have arrested Nishita Iqbal Nodi, former Vice President of the Dhaka University Shamsunnahar Hall unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
She was detained late on Saturday night (December 14) from the Bashundhara residential area in the capital.
Confirming the matter to the media, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (DB) Rezaul Mallik stated that Nishita Iqbal Nodi was arrested based on specific allegations and information. She is reportedly implicated in multiple cases.
It is worth mentioning that on October 23, the interim government banned the Awami League’s affiliate student organization, Bangladesh Chhatra League, and officially listed it as a proscribed entity.
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Titumir Students Block Road, Demand Separate University
A group of students of Titumir College again blocked the road at the capital's Mohakhali area, demanding the establishment of a separate public university for Government Titumir College. This has created a traffic jam in that area.
They took a position on the Mohakhali railway line on Monday (November 18) from around 11 o'clock.
It has been seen that a group of students of the college have taken a stand on the railway line under the Mohakhali overbridge demanding to make the government Titumir College a university. Due to this, vehicle movement on that road has stopped. At this time, they were heard shouting various slogans demanding to make Titumir College a university.
Earlier, on October 24, the students of Titumir blocked the road demanding the establishment of a separate public university for the seven affiliated colleges. They started gathering on the college campus that morning. Later took a protest march from the college campus and took a stand at Amtali in Mohakhali. This caused traffic congestion in Mohakhali and surrounding areas.
Titumir Students Block Railways, 2 Trains Stuck
The students of Government Titumir College blocked the roads and railway tracks in the capital's Mohakhali this morning (18 November), demanding the government upgrade the institution to a university. In this incident, 2 intercity trains on the line are stuck.
Bangladesh Railway's Dhaka Control Room confirmed the matter on Monday (November 18) around 12:30 pm.
It was informed from the control room that 2 intercity trains were stuck on the line in the Mohakhali area in the face of students' agitation. Among them, Agnibina Express to Tarakandi of Jamalpur from Dhaka and Banalata Express to Dhaka from Chapainawabganj.
Earlier, students tried to stop the Noakhali-Dhaka-bound inter-city train Upakul Express from crossing the Mohakhali railway crossing amid the blockade today. But they did not stop the train and threw bricks and stones at it. Some windows of the train were broken.
Incidentally, the students have been protesting by blocking the railway and road of Mohakhali since this morning demanding that the government Titumir College be converted into a university. As the rail communication across the country is closed due to their blockade, the movement of traffic in Mohakhali, Banani, and Jahangir Gate areas is completely blocked due to the students' position at the Mohakhali rail crossing.
Students Throw Bricks at Trains, Several Injured Including Children
The agitating students of Titumir College have blocked the road and rail crossing in Mohakhali demanding the government upgrade the institution to a university.
Due to this, rail communication was stopped. At that time they stopped two intercity trains and started pelting bricks. Several passengers inside the two trains, including children, were injured.
On Monday (November 18), the students started the movement by occupying the railway gate area of Mohakhali after 11:00 am.
According to the latest information, traffic has been completely blocked in Mohakhali, Banani, and Jahangir Gate areas due to the placement of students at railway crossing along with Mohakhali road. As a result, hundreds of passengers have suffered.
Eyewitnesses say that the students suddenly stood on the railway track without any restrictions and started agitating. At that time, the drivers were forced to stop the two intercity trains coming through the railway line. If the drivers had not stopped the train with caution, a terrible accident could have happened at Mahakhali. Many civilians, including hundreds of students, were feared dead.
In this regard, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Banani police station Md Russell said, the current condition of Mohakhali rail crossing is dire. Train services are completely stopped. Students are protesting by standing on the railway crossing. They stopped the train and threw bricks. Apart from this, due to their agitation, the traffic in Mohakhali, Banani, and Jahangir Gate areas has been completely stopped.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dhaka Railway Police Station Zainal Abedin said that we have come to know about the incident. Several teams of railway police are going to the spot.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway's Dhaka Control Room informed that two intercity trains were stuck on the line in Mohakhali area. They are Agnibina Express bound for Tarakandi of Jamalpur to Dhaka and Banalata Express bound for Dhaka to Chapainawabganj.
Railway Dhaka Divisional Superintendent of Police Anwar Hossain said that some people were injured in the attack on the Upakul Express. The exact number cannot be said at the moment. Rail communication with Dhaka is closed for now.
Bus-Pickup Collision in Tangail: 4 Dead
Four people were killed and one seriously injured in a collision between a bus and a pickup truck in Madhupur, Tangail. Among the deceased are the pickup driver and his assistant.
The accident occurred around 5 a.m. on Tuesday (November 19) in front of Malauri Government Primary School on the Tangail-Mymensingh highway.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. However, it has been reported that the victims include the pickup driver and his assistant. Police arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report and recovered the bodies.
Following the accident, traffic on the road was temporarily disrupted. Police later restored normal conditions.
Titumir Announces 'Close Down' Today, Students Await Advisor's Decision
The students of the government-run Titumir College in the capital are currently observing a 'College Close Down' program, having withdrawn from their decision to block roads and railways demanding the conversion of the capital's Titumir College into a university. However, the protesters have announced that they will block roads and railways again from tomorrow if the government does not accept their demands. They have named this program 'Barasat Barricade to Mohakhali'.
The announcement came through a briefing from the sit-in program at the main gate of the college at around 12:15 pm on Tuesday (November 19).
At the briefing, one of the coordinators of the movement, Matiur Rahman Joy spoke to the media. He stated that government officials, including the education advisor, are scheduled to meet with their delegation today to discuss their demands. However, if no concrete assurance is given by the end of the meeting, the students will block both roads and railways starting at 11 am on Wednesday.
Following the briefing, the students resumed their protests.
Meanwhile, classes and exams are closed at Titumir College as part of the 'College Closure' program. All types of academic activities are also closed.
Police are on alert outside the college campus to prevent any chaos arising during the students' program.
Battery-Run Rickshaws Ordered to be Banned Within 3 Days
The High Court has ordered the ban on battery-powered rickshaws in the Dhaka metropolitan area within three days.
A High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi issued the order on Tuesday (November 19).
In total, about 1.2 million rickshaws are currently operating in the capital. A large part of which is battery-powered. In addition, many old pedal-powered rickshaws are being mechanized by installing batteries.
Battery-powered rickshaws are more common in the capital's narrow streets than on the main roads. These rickshaws also ply on the main roads when they get the opportunity. The number of battery-powered rickshaws is higher in the capital's Khilgaon, Manda, Basabo, Maniknagar, Rampura, Badda, Sayedabad, Jatrabari, Kadamtali, Sabujbagh, Shyampur, Demra, Mohammadpur, Basila, Uttara, Bhatara, Dakshinkhan, Uttarkhan, Moynartek, Mirpur, Pallabi areas.
Committee to Examine Feasibility of Titumir University, Movement Withdrawn
The students have announced the suspension of the agitation after assuring that a committee will be formed within 7 working days to examine whether the government-run Titumir College can be converted into a university.
On Tuesday (November 19) afternoon, a delegation of Titumir College students went to the Secretariat. Professor Aminul Islam, Special Assistant to the Education Advisor assured them in this regard. Later, the students left the Secretariat and announced the suspension of the agitation.
Matiur Rahman, a member of the Titumir College student delegation who participated in the meeting, said that the government has assured to form a committee regarding the demand to convert Titumir College into a university. Which will be formed within the next seven working days. Based on this, we are announcing the suspension of the agitation.
He said that the same committee has informed us that it will investigate the overall issue and submit a report.
The delegation members are Mahmud Hasan Muktar, Mosharraf Rabby, Neyek Nur Mohammad, Abdul Hamid, Nuruddin Jisan, Matiur Rahman Joy, Jahangir Sunny, Mehedy Hasan Mal, Aminul Islam, Mohammad Bellal, Al Noman Nirob, Habibullah Rony, Md Toaha, and Kawsar.
Earlier, students staged a protest for the second day demanding that the government-run Titumir College be converted into a university. A delegation of 14 students went to the Ministry of Education at the government's request.
The rest took up positions in front of the main gate inside the campus around 11 am.
It is worth noting that the Titumir College students have made three demands to the university.
The demands are- 1. Titumir College should be separated from 7 colleges by canceling its affiliation with Dhaka University. 2. A commission should be formed to convert Titumir College into a university. 3. Titumir should formulate an outline for implementing an independent university.