Dhaka, Nov 13 (V7N)- Members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a protest on Wednesday, blocking the Rangpur-Dhaka highway to demand the appointment of at least five advisers from Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in the interim government. They set a deadline, warning of a "shutdown" and additional actions if their demands weren’t met by evening.

The demonstration began at 11 a.m. when students marched from Carmichael College in Lalbagh, Rangpur, covering 2.5 kilometers to Modern More, where they obstructed the highway. Joined by residents from various communities, the protest disrupted road connections between Rangpur and eight other districts, causing a 10-kilometer traffic jam and stranding thousands of commuters, some of whom attempted to reach their destinations on foot.

Student leaders criticized the government, asserting that hopes for ending historic discrimination against Rangpur arose after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration on August 5. However, they claimed continued exclusion of key figures from Rangpur and Rajshahi in government positions, including ministry secretaries and police roles, despite 13 advisers being selected from a single division.

At the rally, they invoked the legacy of Abu Sayed, who had fought against regional discrimination, pledging to intensify their actions if demands went unmet, including blockades and shutdowns across the two divisions.

The blockade was lifted at approximately 1:45 p.m. upon requests from senior police officers, allowing traffic to resume. Assistant Police Commissioner Abdur Rashid reported strong local support for the movement, adding that while the police requested calm, the situation remains under control.

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