RU students besiege railway station over ‘assault’ on fellow student

Students of Rajshahi University (RU) besieged Rajshahi Railway Station after a university student was allegedly assaulted by members of the Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) and ticket examiners at the station gate.

The railway authorities later cancelled the journey of the Dhumketu Express as the students blocked the station.

The injured student was identified as Ayub, a 2022-23 academic year student of the Department of Islamic History and Culture. He is undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

The incident reportedly took place around 9:30pm on Sunday. Students went to the station and began the blockade around 11:30pm and were still there when this report was filed.

According to witnesses, an argument broke out between Ayub and railway security personnel at the station gate. At one point, ticket examiners and RNB members allegedly assaulted him.

Naimul Islam Abro, a classmate of Ayub, said Ayub fell to the ground after the assault and was later taken to hospital. He said Ayub was unconscious and had vomited several times and suffered bleeding from his nose.

RU Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Faridul Islam visited Ayub at the hospital and described the incident as “extremely regrettable”.

He said he had spoken to a neurosurgeon and that Ayub was being kept under observation for 24 hours.

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” the vice-chancellor said, adding that the university was giving the highest priority to Ayub’s treatment.

He also condemned the alleged conduct of the railway security personnel, ticket examiners and guards and urged the higher authorities and police to take prompt disciplinary action against those involved.

Meanwhile, RU students staged protests and blocked the university’s railway station in protest against the incident before heading to Rajshahi Railway Station to besiege it.

Separately, four RNB members accused in the incident have been temporarily suspended through an office order signed by the chief commandant of Bangladesh Railway in Rajshahi.