In a twist of events, transport workers yesterday blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway protesting an act of vandalism by students of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) -- just half an hour after the students withdrew the similar programme protesting an attack on their fellows by locals in Sadar upazila of the district.  

The blockade started around 7:00pm soon after students withdrew their blockade around 6:30pm.

The blockade was continuing till filing of the report as of 9:00pm, suspending vehicular movement on the highway, said SA Newazi, additional superintendant of police (crime) of Mymensingh. 

 It all started when a truck hit a university bus carrying teachers and students in Churkhai Beltoli area of Sadar upazila around 4:30pm, said Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Kotwali Police Station.

At that time, another bus of the university carrying students was passing by. The students of the second bus joined those of the former and protested the incident.

In the meantime, locals joined the truck driver and locked in altercation with the students.

At one stage, they attacked the students, leaving some 20 of them and a teacher of the university injured, alleged Sanjoy Kumar Mukherjee, assistant proctor of JKKNIU.

The injured students were treated at different hospitals including Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said the proctor.

The locals also vandalised the university buses, the proctor alleged. Protesting the attack, the students blocked the highway in the area.

As the news spread, students of the university also blocked the highway at Zero-point in Trishal upazila, disrupting vehicular movement on the highway for over two hours, said Md Jakiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Trishal Police Station.

The agitated students also vandalised some 40 vehicles during their agitation, claimed the OC, adding that they also had held rallies there demanding immediate arrest of the attackers.

However, students withdrew their protest around 6:30pm after JKKNIU vice-chancellor assured them of taking measures to arrest the attackers, said police.

Meanwhile, police detained three persons for their alleged involvement in the attack on students and they were being interrogated, said Md Al-Amin, additional police superintendent (Sadar Circle) of Mymensingh.