Rajshahi University Correspondent //

Agitated students, protesting the assault of a Rajshahi University (RU) student, vandalized Rajshahi Railway Station in multiple waves after blockading the railway tracks. During the incident, they damaged various parts of the station, including the main building, the railway police station, the parcel office, the Railway Security Force (RNB) office, and several platforms. As of 1:00 AM on Monday—when this report was filed—the students were still occupying the station premises.

Armed with tree branches, bamboo poles, and sticks, and pelting bricks and stones, the students repeatedly smashed glass windows, trash bins, shops, staff rooms, offices, signboards, and CCTV cameras.

To bring the situation under control, University Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman arrived at the scene around 12:00 AM. He attempted to calm the students and urged them to leave the station, but they refused to budge. Later, when senior police officials arrived, the students began chanting slogans labeling them “fake.”

Earlier, around 9:30 PM on Sunday, a student named Ayub Ali was assaulted at the station. In protest, Salahuddin Ammar, General Secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU), issued a warning: if the employees involved in the attack were not detained by 11:20 PM, students would stop trains and force officials to disembark. Subsequently, around 11:00 PM, students set fires and blockaded the railway station adjacent to the university. At that time, the *Dhumketu Express*, bound for Rajshahi Railway Station, was halted near Harian—an area just before the university station. The students then advanced along the tracks toward Rajshahi Railway Station and began vandalizing the premises immediately upon arrival.

The victim, Ayub Ali, is a student of the Department of Islamic History and Culture (2022–23 academic session). University authorities have confirmed that he is currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College (RMCH) Hospital.

It has been reported that Ayub Ali had gone to the railway station to pick up his uncle. At that time, an altercation broke out between two students from the Department of English and the on-duty Ansar members at the station. When Ayub Ali protested, he was beaten up.

When asked about the incident, Ayub’s classmate Mohammad Mizan stated that a verbal dispute was taking place between some Rajshahi University students and railway staff at the station. Ayub was severely beaten after he spoke up in support of the students. He is currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

RAKSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar said, “Those involved must be detained by 11:00 PM. If they are not detained by then, I will stop the 11:20 PM train and pull two staff members off every train. You can take whatever action you deem necessary against me. I want to see why there is such vindictiveness towards Rajshahi University students.”

When asked about the matter, Ahmed Hossain Masum, Director General of Western Railway, told the media, “Such violent incidents are undesirable. We are collecting CCTV footage of the incident and sending it to intelligence agencies and law enforcement forces. Those involved will certainly be dismissed.”

Regarding Salahuddin Ammar’s warning and the students’ blockade, he said, “It is quite natural for students to become emotional after such an untoward incident. I would urge them not to take the law into their own hands. We will take legal action promptly.”

**Four Railway Security Force members temporarily suspended**

Meanwhile, four members of the Railway Security Force (RNB) involved in the severe beating of the student have been temporarily suspended. The decision was announced on Sunday in an order signed by Md. Ashraful Islam, Chief Commandant of Bangladesh Railway (West Zone).

The suspended RNB members are Md. Arif Hossain, Md. Rokon Uddin, Md. Shafiqul Islam, and Md. Shahadat Hossain.

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