Key Highlights
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Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) students staged a pre-announced blockade at Agargaon.
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The protest began at 11:30 AM and continued for one and a half hours, ending at 1:00 PM.
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Vehicular movement was halted during the blockade, causing severe suffering for commuters.
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Students warned that the movement would continue until their demands were met.
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Their three-point demand includes exclusive recognition for agriculturists and abolition of certain quotas.
The Protest and Its Impact
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) students enforced their pre-announced ‘blockade’ program at Dhaka’s Agargaon area on Thursday (28 August). The protest began around 11:30 AM and continued for about one and a half hours. Vehicular movement in the area came to a standstill, leaving commuters in extreme distress. Traffic resumed around 1:00 PM when the students vacated the road, bringing relief to passengers and drivers.
Students’ Standpoint
The protesting students stated that their agitation would continue until the just demands of agriculturists were fulfilled. They expressed frustration that issues concerning the interests of agriculturists had been long neglected.
Read more: SAU Students Block Agargaon Road Over Three-Point Demand
The Three-Point Demand
The students placed the following three demands during the blockade:
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Reserved Positions for Agriculturists: Posts in the 10th grade of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and other research institutions must be reserved exclusively for agriculturists.
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Merit-Based Promotion: Promotion to the 9th grade should not be granted without passing the recruitment examination, and the BADC quota must be abolished.
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Ban on Misuse of Title ‘Agriculturist’: A government circular must be issued to prohibit the use of the title ‘Agriculturist’ for anyone who does not hold a degree in agriculture or agriculture-related subjects.
Background of the Movement
On Wednesday night (27 August), SAU students had announced the blockade program. On the same night, they also organized a protest march condemning the attack on BUET students.
Source: Somoy TV
