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Published : 16 Mar 2025, 03:31 PM
A group of protesters have blocked the road in front of the Department of Agricultural Extension, or DAE, on Dhaka's Manik Mia Avenue, demanding the removal of several Ministry of Agriculture and DAE officials whom they labelled as "collaborators of the Awami League".
The demonstration began at the Khamarbari roundabout around 12:00pm on Sunday, bringing traffic on the key thoroughfare to a standstill.
As congestion spread to surrounding areas, commuters faced untold hardship, particularly during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Despite requests from law enforcement to clear the road for public convenience, the demonstrators refused to comply, according to the police.
The Tejgaon Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, or DMP, said that a group under the banner of "Students Against Fascism" blocked the Khejurbagan crossing, disrupting traffic along Manik Mia Avenue and causing gridlock on roads leading to Mirpur, Bijoy Sarani, and the elevated expressway exit ramp.
The protest also held up traffic between Farmgate and Asad Gate crossings. Around 1:30pm, the protesters moved from the main road and took position outside the DAE office.
When asked about the reason for the protest, one of the participants, identifying himself as agronomist Shafiqul Rahman, said: "We have been protesting for a long time, but no one has paid attention. We had no choice but to take to the streets today."
Nazrul Islam Tuhin, another protest leader who introduced himself as a Master's student at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said that they were demonstrating against fascism. However, he did not clarify how students were connected to the demands concerning a government agency.
According to the protesters, both students and dismissed government employees participated in the demonstration.
They added that a five-strong delegation was heading to the Secretariat to submit their demands.
Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam of the DMP Tejgaon Traffic Division said that after the road was blocked, officers from the Tejgaon Crime Division and a military team engaged in talks with the protesters.
"After taking 10 minutes to reconsider, they continued to block the road for another hour," he said.
"We reminded them that this is Ramadan and many people are fasting. Their actions are causing unnecessary suffering to the public."
To ease congestion, traffic police attempted to reroute vehicles through alternative roads, he added.
