Students of Dhaka University and a group under the banner of ISKCON at Swamibag Ashram blockaded Shahbagh intersection in the capital Dhaka on Monday protesting the recent communal attacks on Hindus at different places of the country.
The protestors called for the arrest and highest punishment of those who perpetrated the recent attacks on the temples, homes and businesses of the Hindu community across the country.
Residential students from different halls, including Jagannath Hall, gathered at the TSC area of Dhaka University at 9:30 am. They marched to Shahbagh and blockaded the Shahbagh intersection at around 10:00 am.
Vehicular movements were halted for hours at Shahbag, Paltan, Science Lab, Bangla Motor and TSC areas due to the protest.
Hundrads of people from all walks of life joined the protest with the students protesting the communal attacks in Cumila, Feni, Rangpur and other parts of the country.
The protestors gave the government 24 hours to respond. Jaideep Dutta, former leader of the Jagannath Hall Students Union and coordinator of the protest, read the demand.
They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits. They also demanded the protection of minorities, compensation for attack victims, security for temples and religious minorities by law, setting up minority ministries and commissions, modernizing the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust and upgrading it to a foundation, and allocating 15 per cent of the national budget for the betterment of the minority communities.
Jaideep Dutta said, "If these demands are not accepted within the next 24 hours, or the authorities concerned do not contact us, we will announce our next programme tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. This programme will be stricter. "