Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said that they have accepted the demands of the agitating students and called upon them to return to classrooms from the streets.

“If the students continue their agitation, vested groups may take advantage and indulge in subversive activities,” he told reporters after a meeting with some ministers, leaders of transport owners and transport workers at his Secretariat office yesterday (Wednesday).

“We urge parents and teachers to convince the students to return to their classrooms,” he said.

“I’m urging the students to withdraw their protest and return to their classroom. The protest has created public sufferings. It's not good for anyone,” he added.

The home minister held a meeting with shipping minister Shajahan Khan, who is also president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu, state minister for LGRD Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Road Transport Owners' Association secretary general Khondaker Enayet Ullah and some leaders of transport workers.

"The demands of the students are logical and we'll be implementing them. The protest has created huge public sufferings and virtually brought the city to a standstill. It's not good for anyone. We request our dear students to withdraw the siege," said the home minister.

“No one can operate any public transport without fitness and driving licence. Representatives of transport owners and workers, as well as officials, will check the vehicles before rolling out of the terminals. Police personnel will also stay on the routes to see if the vehicles are running properly,” he added. Kamal also said that 309 vehicles were damaged in the last three days.

A reporter wanted to know whether the traffic police are unable to enforce rules because some of the ministers and members of Parliament were in the transport business.

In reply, the home minister said: “No one is above the law. After the Prime Minister’s instructions, the authorities concerned are enforcing rules against all.”

A number of students of different educational institutions were agitating across the capital and other parts of the country for the fourth day yesterday, protesting against the killing of two students in an accident on Airport Road on Sunday.