BAU students block Dhaka-Mymensingh railroad over six-point demand

The protesters have demanded an apology from the vice-chancellor

Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have blocked the railway line in Mymensingh, demanding the vice-chancellor’s apology over an attack by outsiders and not receiving replies for their six-point list of demands.

Around 4pm on Monday, the students staged the blockade at Jabbar’s Mor, halting train services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route.

Mymensingh Railway Police chief Akhtar Hossain said the Mohanganj Express and Jamalpur Commuter trains were stuck at different stations due to the blockade.

Earlier at 11:30am, student representative AHM Himel from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry issued an ultimatum, giving the administration until 2pm to meet the six-point charter.

The students said Vice-Chancellor AKM Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan was asked to publicly apologise by 2pm.

They also demanded withdrawal of the directive asking students to vacate halls, full residential facilities, resignation of the proctorial body within 24 hours, “exemplary punishment” for the teacher allegedly involved in the attack, and immediate awarding of the “combined degree”.

BAU Proctor Abdul Alim said efforts were under way to resolve the issue in discussion with the administration.

On Sunday, protesters had trapped nearly 200 teachers and administrative staff of the university inside a building. They were eventually set free when a group of outsiders attacked, injuring 10 people, including a journalist and students.