Students at Rajshahi University blocked a rail line on Tuesday in protest at the alleged assault of a fellow student by travelling ticket examiners (TTEs), severing Rajshahi’s train links with the rest of Bangladesh.
The blockade, near the university’s fine arts building, followed allegations that law student Forkan Uddin was beaten by six or seven ticket examiners aboard the Padma Express after he challenged them for collecting money from passengers without issuing receipts. Uddin said he was travelling back from Dhaka in the early hours of the morning when the incident occurred.
“Railway revenue is state property,” Uddin said. “I protested because they were taking money without giving tickets.” He alleged that staff pulled him between two carriages, struck him on the neck and back, and attempted to push him out of the train near a window, breaking his spectacles.
Protesting students issued four demands: that the accused staff be produced in person, that the individual be permanently dismissed on bribery charges, that the railway authority act as complainant and file a case over the alleged attempt to kill the student, and that compensation be paid to the victim.
The students also called for all long-distance trains to include a scheduled stop at the Rajshahi University station.
The university’s central students’ union backed the protest. General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar joined the blockade in solidarity. Vice-president Mostakur Rahman Zahid said the line would not reopen until action was taken against the accused.
Student leaders said the blockade would continue until railway authorities came to the site and resolved the issue.
University Proctor Mahbubor Rahman acknowledged the students’ grievance. “The students’ demands are reasonable,” he said. “We are trying to resolve this through discussion with both sides.” He added that the students understood passengers were suffering as a result of the blockade.
Multiple attempts to contact the general manager of Bangladesh Railway’s western zone were unsuccessful.