Students stage protest in Noakhali, block major roads

Several hundreds of students have staged a protest blocking the major roads of Noakhali district town on Monday.

The demonstration saw significant participation of students from various educational institutions, including Noakhali Science and Technology University.
They started the demo around 3pm and occupied the four-lane main road in front of Noakhali Zilla School at Maizdi area of the town for 30 minutes.
The protest caused a complete halt to vehicular movement on the main road, forcing some vehicles to take alternative routes.

The students demanded immediate and unconditional release of the coordinators, an end to repression, reopening of the universities, and resignation of all those involved in recent killings.

Eyewitnesses said the students had occupied the road around 3pm, displaying banners listing their demands, carrying sticks and the national flag.
During the protest, students chanted slogans calling for the release of quota movement coordinators and other demands. Prior to the start of the protest, members of the police and detective branches were seen stationed on the road.

At one point, Superintendent of Noakhali Police Mohammad Asaduzzaman and other senior officials went there and had a dialogue with the students, they said.

After having the dialogue, the SP along with his police team moved a short distance away from the protest site around 3:10pm, maintaining a presence to monitor the situation, said the eyewitnesses.

Regarding this, SP Asaduzzaman said, "The students have said they will peacefully occupy the road for half an hour. We have given them the opportunity. The police will not obstruct peaceful protests. We remain vigilant and I am personally overseeing the situation."