Highway blockade in Cumilla demanding justice for Apratim’s murder

Students of Comilla University blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Sunday, demanding a swift trial and exemplary punishment for those responsible for the murder of Ishayat Shahriar Apratim.

Around 11:30 am, the students staged a sit-in blockade at the Kotbari Bishwaroad area in Cumilla, causing traffic congestion that stretched roughly 10 kilometres on both sides of the highway.

They declared they would continue the protest until the Superintendent of Police holds a press briefing on the murder.

Throughout the blockade, the students chanted slogans calling for speedy justice and the harshest punishment for the killers.

Among the slogans raised were: “People die in Cumilla, yet police receive medals,” “No mercy for the killer; nothing less than the gallows,” “Apratim today—whose turn is it tomorrow?” and “Blood spills from the heart; why is the administration silent?”

The slogan “People die in Cumilla, yet police receive medals” referred to awards recently given to police personnel.

Students pointed to the contrast between recurring murders in the district and the recognition being given to police for allegedly maintaining law and order.

Sadikur Rahman, a student of the Department of English, said, “We haven’t come here today just for Apratim. This is the reality across Bangladesh; such incidents keep happening in Cumilla as well. Yet the Superintendent of Police is reportedly receiving an award. We demand exemplary punishment for Apratim’s killers.”

Araf Bhuiyan, a student of the Department of Physics, added, “This is a complete failure of the police administration. The police keep saying, ‘We’ve found a clue, we’ve found a clue,’ but we have no idea what clue they have actually found. We will remain on the streets until they take responsibility for this failure.”

Anisul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Mainamati Highway Police Station, said police had been sent to the scene to speak with the protesting students after the road was blocked.

Earlier in the day, Apratim’s first namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer) was held at 10:00 am at the Comilla University central playground.

A second namaz-e-janaza took place at 11:00 am in Gandhamati, Cumilla, after which he was laid to rest.

Apratim had gone missing on Friday afternoon after leaving home with his iPhone. His body was recovered on Saturday afternoon from a wooded area in the South Sananda locality, adjacent to the Magic Paradise amusement park near the south gate of Comilla University.