Protest flares up in Sylhet over Wasim’s death

Several hundred students of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) today staged demonstration, demanding justice for one of their fellows, who was pushed off a running bus and killed yesterday evening.

The students blocked Chowhatta, a key intersection of Sylhet city, for two hours since around 11:30am halting traffic movement in the area, our photojournalist reported from Sylhet.

The demonstrators also demanded capital punishment of the bus helper, who allegedly ejected Wasim Adnan from a running bus leading to his death.

They continued their agitation till 1:30pm saying that they would declare their next course of demonstration later.

Meanwhile, the SAU authorities suspended all classes and examinations for today following the death of Wasim, UNB reports quoting Faisal Khalilur Rahman, assistant director of Public Relations of the university.

Photo: Star

The academic activities remained suspended and the university observed the day in mourning, the report said.

SUSPECTED BUS HELPER HELD

Police today detained the suspected bus helper, who pushed off Wasim, a fourth-year student of biotechnology and genetic engineering department at Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj yesterday evening.

Msauk Ali, 38, was detained by a team of Sunamganj police from his in-law’s house in Chhatak upazila of the district around 2:00am, our Moulvibazar correspondent reports quoting police.

Suspected bus helper detained. Photo: Collected

His detention came based on the information given by the bus driver Jewel Ahmed, who was held earlier, said Zedan Al Musa, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

The duo on primary interrogation admitted to their involvement with the crime, said Additional Superintendent of Police in Moulvibazar Anwarul Haque.

SHOVED TO DEATH

Wasim Adnan, 21, a fourth-year student of biotechnology and genetic engineering department at Sylhet Agricultural University, died after he was pushed off a bus by the helper and crushed under the rear wheels in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj yesterday evening.

Wasim along with some of his friends were locked in an altercation with the driver and helper over fare after they boarded a Udar Paribahan bus from Toll Plaza area of Nabiganj to return to Sylhet around 6:30pm.

At one stage, the helper pushed Wasim off the bus, and the vehicle ran him over, leaving him critically injured, police said earlier.

Wasim was rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 7:30pm.

Soon after the incident, students of the university took to the streets and staged demonstrations at the Sylhet bus terminal in South Surma protesting the death of their fellow at night. They also announced to boycott classes on Sunday and observe it as the mourning day.

NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME

His death came in the midst of revived demonstrations for road safety. On Tuesday morning, Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals, was crushed in Dhaka while he was using zebra crossing.

In July last year, North South University student Saidur Rahman Payel was thrown into a canal from a bus by its driver and helper in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj.