BCL cuts founding anniversary cake blocking highway

A faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway for over half an hour to cut cakes as part of the programmes to celebrate its 72nd founding anniversary on Saturday.

Thousands of people suffered immensely as hundreds of vehicles got stuck due to the programme in Goynaghata Bridge area of Gournadi upazila.

“I knew nothing of the programme,” said Gournadi highway police station officer-in-charge Md Muzahidul Islam.

BCL men and witnesses said around 8,000-10,000 leaders and activists of BCL gathered in the area around 11:00am for a rally marking the 72nd founding anniversary of the organisation.

Former vice president of Gournadi Government College Sumon Mahmud, college unit BCL president Sakhawat Hossain alias Suzon and municipality unit BCL Md. Milon Khalifa led the programme.

They placed a table blocking the highway and cut a huge cake there. Hundreds of vehicles got stuck then. The BCL men brought out a procession after completing the almost 35-minute programme.

Wishing anonymity local people alleged the administration kept mum about the programme.

Several bus drivers said they have never seen any programme being organised blocking a very important highway. “People had to suffer a lot,” Khabir Hossain, a bus driver, said.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, former VP of Gournadi Government College Sumon Mahmud said, “We hold the rally in front of Lila Cinema Hall by the highway. But the congestion was created as around 8000-10000 leaders and activists gathered there. A few over enthusiastic leaders and activists cut the cake. I’ve apologised on behalf of municipality and college units of Chhatra League for this unintentional situation.”

Gournadi upazila unit BCL president Zobayerul Islam declined to comment on the issue.