Train services of Rajshahi with other parts halted as RU students block tracks

Rail services of Rajshahi with the rest of the country have been suspended after Rajshahi University (RU) students blocked a railway line over allegations that a train ticket examiner assaulted a student.

On Tuesday from about 6:30AM, a group of students gathered on the railway line near the university's Faculty of Fine Arts and began demonstrating.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, general manager of Bangladesh Railway's Western Zone, said the blockade has left the Dhaka-bound Banalata Express and Silk City Express stranded at Rajshahi Railway Station.

According to him, the two trains have been unable to left despite their scheduled departure times.

''Efforts are under way to resolve the situation,'' he added.

Student named Forkan Uddin, a 2019-20 academic session student of the university's law department, said he was returning to Rajshahi from the capital on the Padma Express on Monday night. He alleged that several passengers were being charged without official receipts and that when he protested, a ticket examiner (TTE) on duty assaulted him.

Forkan said he and several others later reported the incident to the Bangladesh Railway Western Zone office but received no positive response.

They subsequently blocked the railway line, demanding a 'proper investigation'.

The protesters have placed four demands before the authorities.