Rajshahi University Correspondent

Rail communication between Rajshahi and the rest of Bangladesh was suspended on Tuesday morning after students of Rajshahi University (RU) blocked the railway tracks near the university's Faculty of Fine Arts, protesting the alleged assault of a university student by a Bangladesh Railway Ticket Examiner (TTE).

The blockade began at dawn and continued until at least 10:30 a.m., halting train operations on the route.

The complainant, Forkan Uddin, a student of the university's Law Department (2019–20 session), alleged that the incident occurred on Monday night while he was traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi on the Padma Express. According to him, several TTEs were collecting money from passengers without issuing receipts. When he protested, one of the TTEs allegedly grabbed him by the throat, physically assaulted him, and dragged him inside the train.

In response, protesting students announced a four-point demand, calling for:

• The accused TTE to be brought before them in person;
• His permanent dismissal over allegations of accepting bribes;
• Legal action against him for the alleged attempted murder of the student; and
• A mandatory stop for all long-distance trains at Rajshahi University Railway Station.

The blockade left the Bonolota Express and Silk City Express, both bound for Dhaka, stranded at Rajshahi Railway Station.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, General Manager of Bangladesh Railway's Western Zone, said the trains were unable to depart on schedule due to the blockade, temporarily disrupting rail communication between Rajshahi and the rest of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Ariful Islam, a student of the Department of Islamic Studies and General Secretary of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall Students' Parliament, said corruption within the railway system and harassment of those who speak out had become routine. He warned that the blockade would continue until the accused received exemplary punishment and justice was ensured for the assaulted student.

University Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman said railway authorities had agreed to hold talks with the students. Discussions were ongoing regarding whether the meeting would take place on campus or at the railway station. He added that the university administration was working to resolve the situation peacefully.