Online Desk: Jahangirnagar University students have blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway to press home their three-point demands including unconditional release of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams. They started their siege programme staying at the main gate of the university at 3:00pm on Friday.

The students’ demands were withdrawal of cases against Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams and Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) and repeal of the DSA. Alif Mahmud, organising secretary of Jahangirnagar University Chhatra Union, said what journalist Shamsuzzaman wrote quoting a day-labourer was the words of millions of people of Bangladesh.

“The government must stop the ‘politics of throttle’ if an individual talks about the country. The truth won in 1971, and again in 1990 through the fall of autocracy. Now, they make tall talks of democracy. Where is the freedom of expression? The nation will witness another mass upsurge if any attemp is made to stop people using the notorious Digital Security Act. Shams Bhai will have to return to his mother as soon as possible releasing him unconditionally,” he said.

Zahir Faisal, president of the JU Unit of Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, said Shamsuzzman was picked up for making a report on Independence Day. “We want to ask if there is Ayub Khan or Yahya Khan’s rule going on in the country? If it is not, why a journalist was picked up on the Independence Day for making report? We want immediate release of Shamsuzzaman.”

During the demonstration, students stopped the movement of vehicles on both sides of the Dhaka-Aricha highway leading to acute traffic congestion. Taking the sufferings of passengers into account, the agitating students lifted their programme after half an hour. Then the movement of vehicles became normal.