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Dhaka, May 14, 2025: Demanding degree status for Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery courses, nursing students blocked Dhaka’s busiest intersection, Shahbagh, for over six hours on Wednesday, causing severe traffic disruptions and public frustration.
The prolonged blockade led to heated exchanges between the protesters and commuters, with many questioning the government’s inaction.
The protest, which began around 2:10 PM, halted traffic across Shahbagh, Nilkhet, Banglamotor, Science Lab, Ramna, and Karwan Bazar. Ambulances, school buses, and office-bound vehicles were stuck in severe gridlock, exacerbating public discontent. By 8:30 PM, the situation remained tense, with some motorcyclists ignoring barricades and crossing the intersection, verbally confronting the students.
Hafizur Rahman, a government employee returning from Mogbazar, expressed his frustration: “Shahbagh protests have become a daily routine. People have demands, but does that justify holding thousands hostage? The government’s indifference is deeply disappointing.” Around 10-15 motorcyclists also argued with the students in the evening, stating, “Blocking roads won’t bring solutions. Holding the public hostage never makes a movement successful.”
The students, visibly exhausted from the day-long protest, faced challenges from rain, heat, and hunger. Arif Ahmed, a protester, said, “I haven’t eaten since noon. Sitting here is tough for us too. We know people are suffering, and we don’t want this, but our backs are against the wall. We have no choice.”
The students demand that the 110-credit, three-and-a-half-year Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery and Diploma in Midwifery courses, pursued after HSC, be recognized as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. They argue that National University students receive degree status for similar three-year courses, creating unfair disparities. Rafia Chowdhury, a protester, stated, “We’ve been demanding this for a long time, but the government has taken no effective steps. Our movement will continue until our demand is met.”
Earlier in the day, students from various districts gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar before marching toward Shahbagh. Despite police barricades near Shahbagh Police Station, they broke through and occupied the intersection. The blockade ended after police used batons to disperse the protesters, allowing traffic to resume.
AI/MR
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