Foundation laid for Ramiz Uddin College road underpass

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has laid the foundation for an underpass to be built near Kurmitola’s Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College, where two students were killed in a bus accident, triggering nationwide protests for road safety.

Hasina urged the students to be patient and ignore rumours while laying the foundation stone at an event on the college premises on Sunday.

A documentary regarding the underpass construction project was shown at the start of the event.

Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, army chief Gen Aziz Ahmed and other civil and military officials were present at the ceremony.

On Jul 29 two students from the college, Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, were run over and killed by a Jabale Noor Paribahan bus on Dhaka’s Airport Road.

In response, students launched a nationwide protest calling for road safety.

The students made nine demands as they took to the streets, checking driver’s licences and vehicle documents in place of police.

Though the protests started peacefully, there were eventually clashes between police, alleged activists for the ruling Awami League and the protesters. The government says these clashes were triggered by rumours.

The government announced that it would accept the students’ demands and the cabinet gave its long-delayed approval to a new road transport law.

Hasina has donated five buses to the college for transporting students. The government has also given Tk 2 million in compensation to the families of the dead students.