Chittagong University (CU) has launched a permanent circular bus service between Gate No 1 and Zero Point to ease student transportation on campus.
Four buses started operating on the route from 8am on Tuesday, with students able to use the service free of charge.
The initiative came after leaders of the Chittagong University Central Student Union (Cucsu) staged a sit-in at the university’s main gate on Monday night, protesting an increase in auto-rickshaw fares and the sudden suspension of the service.
The protesting students demanded the immediate introduction of a circular bus service.
At around 1am, CU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mohammad Al-Amin visited the protest site and announced that four buses would be introduced permanently.
“The students’ demand was to launch a circular bus service permanently,” he told the protesters, urging them to return to their residential halls as it was already late at night.
Following the announcement, the buses began operating between Gate No 1 and Zero Point from Tuesday morning.
Cucsu Communications and Accommodation Secretary Md Ishak Bhuiyan said the four buses had started running from 8am and the service was completely free for students.
“The closing time of the service at night will be decided after further discussions,” he said.
CU Assistant Proctor Professor Md Kamrul Hossain confirmed the launch, saying four buses were transporting students between Gate No 1 and Zero Point in both directions.
“It is a completely free service for students,” he said.
Asked about the duration of the initiative, the assistant proctor said the arrangement had been made more or less permanent and future decisions would be taken based on students’ reasonable demands.
Meanwhile, Shakil, in-charge of the university’s large buses, said the vehicles started operating at 8am on Tuesday following instructions from the administrator.
He added that he had not yet received any specific schedule regarding the daily operating hours of the buses.
