Rajshahi University (RU) students staged a railway blockade for one and a half hours, protesting against "Dhaka University (DU) centralism" and advocating for a decentralized Bangladesh. The protest disrupted rail communication nationwide.
The demonstration took place at Station Bazar near the university, beginning at 11:30 AM on 5 March, and ended around 1 PM after students presented their three key demands.
Salauddin Ammar, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, stated, "We demand equal opportunities in recruitment nationwide. Bangladesh must be freed from the dominance of Dhaka and Dhaka University. From the University Grants Commission (UGC) to government adviser appointments, DU’s influence is overwhelming. We reject this centralism and seek restructuring in institutions like the Public Service Commission (PSC) and UGC."
During the blockade, students chanted slogans supporting decentralization, such as "Dhaka or Rangpur? Rangpur, Rangpur!", "Dhaka or Cumilla? Cumilla, Cumilla!", and "DU or RU? RU, RU!"
The students outlined the following demands for state reforms: ensuring equal participation from RU, CU, JU, 7 colleges, private universities, national universities, and madrasas in policymaking, restructuring national institutions like the Reform Commission, PSC, and UGC to ensure fair representation, and establishing a clear framework for a decentralized Bangladesh. They warned that if their demands are not addressed, they will resume protests after Iftar on 6 March.
Due to the blockade, train operations came to a standstill. Rajshahi Railway Station Superintendent (Acting) Shahidul Alam confirmed the disruption, saying, "Rail services have been suspended because of the student protest."
Several trains were stranded at various stations, including Dhumketu Express, which was stuck at Harian station, Kapotaksha Express, which was stuck en route from Khulna, and Tungipara Express, which was stuck on its way from Gopalganj.
A similar protest march took place on 4 March on the RU campus. If authorities fail to meet their demands, students have vowed to intensify their movement.
