Barisal Blockade Over Three-Point Demands, Including Breaking Healthcare Syndicate, Causes Public Suffering

Protesters block the Dhaka-Barisal highway from 11:30 AM, demanding three key reforms, causing significant inconvenience to passengers on various routes. Tuesday, August 12, 2025, in Barisal’s Nathullabad area.

On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, protesters under the banner of students and citizens blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway at two locations and Sadar Road in Barisal city as part of the "Barisal Blockade" to press for three key demands, including dismantling the healthcare syndicate. Additionally, a group of students staged a hunger strike in front of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

The blockade, which began around 12 PM, disrupted road connectivity between Dhaka and all districts of the Barisal division, causing immense hardship for thousands of passengers amid scorching heat. While some vehicles took alternative routes to reach Dhaka, they had to travel an additional 10 kilometers. The blockade of Sadar Road, a key city thoroughfare, led to severe traffic congestion, further inconveniencing residents. Ali Ahmed, a passenger from Patuakhali, expressed frustration, saying, “What’s the logic behind blocking roads and causing public suffering in this heat? If this movement is for the people, why create such hardship?” Jakhir Hossain Sikdar, Officer-in-Charge of Barisal Airport Police Station, confirmed that students blocked the highway and Sadar Road to press their three-point demands, but the law and order situation remained under control. Meanwhile, a section of protesters continued their hunger strike in front of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, vowing to persist until their demands are met. The movement, led by Dhaka University student Mahiuddin Roni under the banner of “Students-People,” has been ongoing for 17 days, demanding reforms in public hospitals, including Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, to address mismanagement, irregularities, and the healthcare syndicate. The Dhaka-Barisal highway blockade began last Friday, lasting seven and a half hours, followed by four and a half hours on Saturday, five and a half hours on Sunday, and four and a half hours on Monday. On Sunday afternoon, the protesters held a press conference, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the health adviser to visit Barisal and address the issues. After the deadline passed on Monday, they announced the Barisal Blockade following another four-and-a-half-hour highway blockade. The three-point demands are: 1. Infrastructure development, adequate skilled manpower, modern equipment, and medicine supply in Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and all public hospitals. 2. Enhancing administrative efficiency to curb corruption in the health ministry and hospitals, banning partisan politics by doctors, and establishing digital automation and a transparent, accountable task force. 3. Strengthening the Health Sector Reform Commission to investigate public grievances, make recommendations, and implement decisions effectively. Mahiuddin Roni said, “For over two weeks, we’ve been protesting against mismanagement, patient harassment, and the corruption syndicate in public hospitals across the country. The health adviser has neither visited Barisal nor given clear assurances regarding corruption and mismanagement at Sher-e-Bangla. The cries of Barisal’s people have not yet reached the ministry. If this continues, our movement will intensify. We will not leave the streets until our three demands—addressing mismanagement, patient harassment, and the healthcare syndicate—are met.”