Authorities seem indifferent to problem

At least six students died in separate road accidents and about 10 others injured on the campus in last seven years.

During all these years, the university authorities constructed only a road divider and an island on campus roads and took some measurers to bar heavy vehicles from entering the campus which is yet to be safe for about 30,000 students.

The latest victim Mobarak Hossain, a first year student of management, who was severely injured in a road accident at Shahbagh intersection on Monday afternoon, is now fighting for life in intensive care unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said on-duty doctors.

After every road accident, students demonstrate against the failure in taking preventive measures by the authorities who renew their pledge to meet their demands and after some days they send the matter to cold storage, alleged some students.

"If the authorities would have taken appropriate steps to prevent road accidents, Mobarak might not be one more victim," said a student.

On May 28 of last year, Shammi Akhtar Happy, a third year student of psychology department and a resident of Rokeya Hall, was killed in a road accident at Shahbagh intersection.

Hundreds of students were injured by brutal police attack on the demonstration that took place to protest the death of Happy.

The students protested the authorities' failure in ensuring their safety and demanded ban on the movement of heavy vehicles on campus roads and foot over-bridges on the intersections.

The demand for ban on heavy vehicles and foot over- bridges at six entrances to university came forefront after Saiful Islam Riad, a BBA student, was killed in a road accident in front of the Teachers Students Centre on March 24, 1999.

Chaman Ara Parvin Champa, a second year student of philosophy department, was killed in a road accident at Palashi intersection on October 30, 2001.

On the same day of next year when students were observing Champa's first death anniversary, another student Rubel Sarwar of geology department died falling from a bus as the helper pushed him out of the running bus in front of Fazlul Haq Hall.

Before the completion of one year, Rafiqul Islam Sagar, a biochemistry student, was killed when a bus hit him at a place adjacent to Chankharpul area on September 23, 2003.

Proctor Prof AK Firoz Ahmed said the authorities are always careful about students' security.

"We have taken many steps to avert road accident on the campus and we are thinking of further steps in this regard," he added.