Police on Friday afternoon dispersed a group of students and jobseekers who blocked the Shahbagh crossing in the capital demanding reforms in the Public Service Commission and measures against the masterminds of government job recruitment exams鈥� question leaks.
Protesters under the banner of 鈥楥hhatra Shamabesh鈥� blocked the crossing at about 5:30pm, halting vehicular movement on the adjacent thoroughfares that created huge traffic congestion in the nearby areas, causing public sufferings.
The blockade halted the vehicular movement in Shahbagh and surrounding areas for around half an hour, said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Ramna zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
鈥楾he traffic movement was halted as it is one of the busiest roads in the city. We tried to normalise the traffic by discussing with the protesters but they refused to cooperate with us,鈥� he said.
Police later had to disperse the protesters to make the traffic situation normal, added the police official.
The protesters first gathered in front of the Dhaka University Central Library, and from there marched towards the Shahbagh crossing.
As they reached Shahbagh, the police intercepted and requested them to clear the road. Later, the police charged batons on the demonstrators and forced them to leave the area.
The protesters said that the PSC required huge reforms and the authorities should start with taking action against the groups responsible for leaking government job exam questions.
They said that the government appeared weak in the face of the 鈥榩owerful syndicate鈥� of question leakers.
Speaking about question leak scandal regarding the 44th, 45th, and 46th Bangladesh Civil Service exams, the protesters alleged that the interim government, which assumed office on August 8, 2024, after the fall of the fascist Awami League government, had failed to address the crisis.