Rail links between Rajshahi and the rest of the country returned to normal around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after an eight-hour blockade, once authorities accepted the four-point demands of Rajshahi University (RU) students. The accused train ticket examiner (TTE) was temporarily suspended over allegations of assaulting RU student Furkan Uddin on a train, and five decisions were taken, including forming two committees for a higher inquiry.
The decisions were made at an emergency meeting of administration, railway authorities and RU representatives at the divisional commissioner’s office on Tuesday. Under the decisions, the accused TTE was temporarily suspended. One committee, under the railway authorities, will investigate the internal aspects of the incident, while another — including an additional district magistrate, a member of the Railway Security Force and RU representatives — will conduct an independent inquiry.
The meeting also decided that the injured student would be treated at the railway hospital, though he could also seek care at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital if he wished. Stoppages for late-night intercity trains at Rajshahi University station will be introduced. Another formal meeting to review progress will be held at the divisional commissioner’s office on August 6.
RAKSU General Secretary Salauddin Ammar said: “The administration has made positive decisions on the students’ reasonable demands. We hope the committees will work impartially and appropriate action will be taken against those involved. We have also been assured of effective steps so that no student faces such an incident in future. In light of these decisions, we have withdrawn the blockade.”
Earlier, RU students blocked the rail line from Tuesday morning demanding punishment of the accused TTE and a proper inquiry, halting rail links between Rajshahi and the rest of the country for about eight hours. Trains were stranded at various stations and hundreds of passengers suffered severely. Train movement resumed after the meeting decided on the students’ demands and the blockade was lifted.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report