Wasim's death: SAU students boycott classes in protest

Students from Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) have boycotted classes in protest of the death of Gori Mohammed Wasim, who was allegedly killed when he was pushed off a moving bus.

Sylhet Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 March 2019, 08:45 AM
Updated : 24 March 2019, 08:49 AM

Wasim’s fellow university students conducted a protest on the SAU campus on Sunday morning.

Teachers from the university have also announced their solidarity with the protests.

The students then held a protest rally a the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar at noon to press for a five-point list of demands.

Their demands are the scrapping of the route permit and license of Udar Paribahan, the hanging of the bus driver and bus helper involved, the removal of unlicensed and unfit vehicles from the roads, the removal of unskilled drivers from the roads and the safety of students and all other people on roads.

Gori Mohammad Wasim and a few of his classmates had got on a Sylhet-bound bus of Udar Paribahan from Nabiganj's Gopalbazar around 5pm on Saturday.

He became embroiled in an argument with the bus helper over the fare after he could not find a seat and was allegedly pushed off of the bus by the helper while it was moving.

He was critically injured and taken to Sylhet’s Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Police have detained the bus driver and his helper over the incident.

Several hundred students hurried to the hospital upon hearing the news of Wasim’s death and began to protest. The protest eventually moved to the Kadamtali Central Bus Terminal, which was then vandalised.

South Surma Police OC Khairul Fazal said the students had caused a great deal of vandalism at the terminal after Wasim’s death.

Sylhet Agricultural University Proctor Prof D. Mrityunjoy Kunda said:

“Classes and tests were not held because of the student protests. The bus driver and helper have been detained.”

“We hope he is made an example according to the law.”

He also expressed his hope that students would return to class on Monday.