Although the students have been protesting on the streets for more than three weeks, neither the minister of the concerned ministry nor the policymakers of the government have felt any urge to hold a talk with them. They can attend meetings and rallies ignoring the Covid restrictions, but cannot find any time to talk to the students. It shows their attitude towards the youth.
Although the public and the private transport authorities have declared to accept half bus fare for the students, any circular regarding this is yet to be issued. Where this would be effective is not clear either. Already the students outside Dhaka are protesting demanding half bus fare.
The students launched the movement for half pass on public transport including bus, minibus, train, launch and steamer on 18 November. Later, the issue of road safety was added to their demands after a student of Notre Dame College and a media worker were killed by garbage trucks of the two city corporations. The protest was further intensified after a bus ran over a SSC examinee in Rampura. Afterwards, Rampura turned into one of the major centres of their movement.
To end the chaos on the roads, the agitated students brought forward a nine-point demand, including the implementation of the Road Transport Act of 2018. The students launched a movement after two students had been killed by a bus on the Airport Road.
In the face of the students' protest, the government enacted the Road Transport Act. However, it could not be implemented due to the opposition from the transport owners and workers' associations. This time, the students have added adequate compensation for the family of the victims to their demand. They have called for a rally to press home this demand on 10 December.
The students, who are supposed to be in the class, are on the street today, which is not a matter of honour for the country and nation at all. They are not protesting for any personal gain. They took to the streets to bring back order on the roads to ensure safety for all. We cannot understand why the transport owners and workers are against this? The law will ensure safety not only for the commuters but also for the transport owners and workers.
The policymakers of the government claim that the youth are the future of the nation. Then, why are they ignoring the logical demands of the youth? Why do the youth have to take to the streets again and again? Has our nation become so deaf? The people holding responsible posts of the state always keep advising the youth. However, when it comes to taking actions against the liable persons for road accidents, they remain silent.
We call on the government to accept the 10-point demand of the students before 10 December, to issue a circular regarding half pass and to ensure a appropriate compensation for the family of the victims, even though we know that there is no compensation for a loss of life.