Students Block Rampura Bridge with 11-Point Demands

Students are protesting for the second day in a row demanding justice for the death of SSC examinee Mainuddin in a bus crash in Rampura. From there they demanded 11 points.

Students from various educational institutions in the area took position on the road around 11:30 pm on Wednesday (December 1). Then around 12:00 pm at noon they raised the demands.

Their demands are:

1. All those responsible for the deaths of Naim and Mainuddin must be brought to justice. Families of the victims must be fairly compensated. Footbridges will have to be constructed for pedestrian crossing in the area adjacent to Gulistan and Rampura bridges.
2. Half fare of students in all public transport across the country has to be confirmed with government notification. No time or day can be fixed for half fare. Extended bus fares will have to be withdrawn. The number of BRTC buses on all routes needs to be increased.
3. Ensure free travel and courteous use of public transport for students and women.
4. Bus owners should be held accountable for fitness, unlicensed vehicles, and unlicensed drivers. The BRTA needs to take effective action against corruption in vehicles and driving licenses.
5. Increase the number of traffic police on crowded roads including ensuring traffic lights on all roads, zebra crossings. The government must take effective measures to control bribery and corruption among traffic police.
6. To stop reckless competition between buses, one bus on one route and daily earnings should be introduced to distribute equally among all transport owners according to their share.
7. Employees need to confirm the appointment letter, identity card. Contract appointments must be canceled. Instead of providing buses on contract basis, the entire transport system has to be streamlined on the basis of tickets and counters. Restrooms and toilets should be provided for the workers.
8. The working hours of the driver should not be more than 8 hours in a row. Each bus should have two drivers and two assistants. Adequate bus terminal needs to be constructed. Transport workers need to be properly trained.
9. The Road Transport Act needs to be reformed and its implementation ensured with the views of passengers, transport workers and government representatives.
10. Trucks, garbage trucks and other heavy vehicles should be allowed to travel from 12:00 am midnight to 5 am morning.
11. Effective initiatives should be taken in the whole society to eradicate drug addiction. Regular dope tests and counseling should be arranged for driver-assistants.

Sajjad Hassan Oni, a student at Cambrian School and College, one of the coordinators of the movement, said that the student movement will continue till these demands are met.