Rail link with Rajshahi restored after 7-hour blockade

Rail communication between Rajshahi and the rest of the country resumed after seven hours when Rajshahi University (RU) students lifted their blockade of the Dhaka-Rajshahi rail line on Saturday night (22 November).
The students withdrew the blockade at around 10:30pm following assurances from Bangladesh Railway Western Zone General Manager (West) Farid Ahmed.
The agitators had blocked the tracks near Station Bazar adjacent to the RU campus from 3:30pm, demanding reasonable time for the 47th BCS written examination and protesting alleged police brutality on ordinary students.
During the blockade, they raised slogans including "One day three-four PSC tyranny", "Everyone gets six months, why only two for us?", "We want reasonable time", "My brother is on hunger strike, what is PSC doing?", "My brother is on hunger strike, what is Mahfuz doing?", "Direct action against tyranny", and "In Abu Sayeed's Bangladesh, there is no room for discrimination".
RU Proctor and Vice-Chancellor attempted to persuade the students in the evening but they continued the protest. The blockade was finally suspended after the railway GM personally arrived and assured them that a positive outcome would emerge by tonight as the PSC was holding a meeting.
Speaking after the withdrawal, protesting student Sabbir said, "The Western Zone GM just came and assured us that a result will come tonight. He informed us that PSC is in a meeting. We are suspending the agitation today on his word. But if no positive result comes tonight, we will resume the movement tomorrow."
Bangladesh Railway Western Zone General Manager (West) Farid Ahmed said rail communication is now normal, though all trains will run late due to the schedule disruption. "Until the off-days are adjusted, all trains will operate behind schedule," he added.