The day-long blockade of roads and railways by students of Government Titumir College in the capital's Mohakhali area, demanding the college be upgraded to a university, caused immense suffering to city residents yesterday.

Around 2,000 students took out a procession from the college campus and blocked the Mohakhali intersection, including the railway crossing, around 11:15am. They continued their protest until 4:00pm.

People walk to their destinations yesterday after students of Government Titumir College block the Mohakhali level crossing and nearby streets for several hours. The photo was taken in Chairmanbari area of Banani around 12:30pm. Photo: Prabir Das

Because of the protest, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic from Mohakhali to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on both sides. Additionally, all trains to and from Dhaka were delayed due to the blockade.

The demonstrating students forcibly stopped the Upakul Express, coming from Noakhali, at the Mohakhali railway crossing around 12:15 pm.

Moreover, they hurled stones through its windows, injuring at least 15-20 passengers, including children and women inside. Approximately 25 windows were broken, according to railway officials.

Besides the Mohakhali intersection, the protesters also blocked other major roads, including roads leading to Gulshan and Banani, and areas around the BRT headquarters. They allowed only ambulances and CNG-run autorickshaws carrying patients to get through.

With no transportation available, many people were forced to walk to their destinations, some carrying heavy luggage or assisting elderly relatives and children.

Zobaidah Ferdus said she was stuck on the highway near the Mohakhali intersection for nearly an hour on her way to see a doctor in Gulshan-2.

"How can students block such a busy intersection? They could have sent their demands to the government if they were logical. Why did we have to suffer for a group of students' demands?" she questioned.

Another commuter, walking from the Army Stadium to Mohakhali with two of his family members, said, "We waited for over 30 minutes for the traffic to move then decided to walk. We heard that students blocked the roads."

"The government must take action against those who unnecessarily block highways and cause suffering to the masses."

The traffic also came to a halt in Mirpur, with vehicles on Begum Rokeya Sarani stuck for hours, eyewitnesses said. They said that while both the Mohakhali flyover and the road below were closed to traffic, the elevated expressway remained operational.

Khairul Kabir, the divisional transport official (Dhaka Division) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star that railway operations resumed after over four hours at 4:10pm. However, all trains to and from Dhaka were delayed due to the blockade, he added.

Students of Titumir College have repeatedly staged road blockades in recent months, demanding the college be upgraded to a university and the formation of a Titumir University Commission.