The sixth consecutive day of citizens’ protests in Sarajevo following the tram accident in which one person was killed and several others injured ended with a message that the fight for safety and institutional accountability will not stop, along with the announcement of a new protest scheduled for Saturday, February 21.
The informal groups of high school and university students, “Hoćel’ ta promjena” (“Will Change Happen?”) and “Za bolje sutra” (“For a Better Tomorrow”), had earlier called on Sarajevo residents to attend a plenum held at 12 p.m. in front of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where participants discussed proposals and the future course of the protests.
One of the demonstrators, Kerim Žuga, presented new demands and announced a two-day break from protests, stating that the next gathering will take place on Saturday at noon in front of the museum.
According to him, protesters are demanding the urgent remediation of identified safety risks, the appointment of qualified and competent professionals to all vacant positions in relevant institutions, and the introduction of clear and fair criteria for the allocation of social assistance to ensure that support reaches those who truly need it.
Their demands also include a budget revision aligned with priority needs in order to secure additional funding for the public transport fleet and its maintenance, as well as the public release of an action plan listing responsible individuals, concrete measures, and clearly defined deadlines of 30, 60, and 90 days for resolving the issues.
As previously, today’s protest began with a gathering in front of the National Museum, followed by a peaceful march through the city streets. The demonstrators headed toward the city center, with traffic temporarily suspended. Brief addresses were delivered near the Sarajevo City Center (SCC), after which the procession then continued toward Skenderija, eventually returning to the original gathering point.
Criticism was again directed at the Sarajevo Canton Minister of Education, Naida Hota-Muminović, over alleged threats that students participating in the protests would receive disciplinary reprimands or lowered conduct grades, claims the minister has denied. One high school representative stated that teachers often discourage students from attending the protests.
Many participants described the protests as “the best school for children,” saying that they are learning firsthand what democracy means.
The youth organizers also issued a public call to artists and members of the academic community to join their cause, emphasizing that support is needed from all “people of good will” – activists, actors, writers, professors, and journalists. They stressed that the initiative transcends individual interests and calls for broader social solidarity.
Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk resigned on Sunday, February 15, and the following day the director of GRAS, Senad Mujagić, also stepped down.
The Sarajevo Canton Prosecutor’s Office announced today that after the court rejected the proposal to order pre-trial detention for tram driver Adnan Kasapović, the investigation is continuing in several directions, with particular focus on the technical condition of the vehicle.
So far, 30 witnesses have been interviewed and ten surveillance recordings have been seized from nearby facilities, including footage from BH Telecom, the National Museum, a Technical School, and the tram cabin. Extensive documentation related to the reconstruction of the tram line has also been obtained. All materials are currently undergoing forensic analysis.
The Prosecutor’s Office added that the pace of further proceedings will depend on the actions of police investigators, expert witnesses, other competent institutions, and court decisions required for investigative measures.
According to the latest information, as stated by the director of the General Hospital Abdulah Nakaš, Prof. Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, the overall condition of patient Ella Jovanović is improving, and she is expected to be transferred to semi-intensive care while continuing multidisciplinary treatment.
