Rajshahi, Sept 22 (V7N) — Rajshahi Railway Station came under tension after students of Rajshahi University allegedly vandalized parts of the station following an alleged assault on a university student during a dispute over ticket checking.
The students reportedly blocked a railway line before marching to the station, where several facilities, offices, shops, CCTV cameras and a bank booth were allegedly damaged. Some passengers also alleged that they were assaulted or that their belongings were taken during the incident. However, these allegations, as well as the full extent of the damage, could not be independently verified.
The incident began on Sunday evening (Sept 20) when a Rajshahi University student allegedly got into an argument and scuffle with a ticket checker and members of the Railway Security Force at Rajshahi Railway Station after being asked to show a ticket.
Students later alleged that a student named Ayub Ali was assaulted during the incident. They demanded action against those allegedly involved and called on railway authorities to take immediate measures.
At around 11 p.m., students blocked a railway line near the university by setting a fire on the tracks. The Rajshahi-bound Madhumati Express was reportedly stranded in the Harian area as a result.
After setting a deadline for railway authorities to take action, the students announced a “March to Rajshahi Railway Station” and headed toward the station.
The students reached the station at around midnight, triggering a tense situation. Vandalism was allegedly carried out in several phases over approximately one and a half hours.
According to eyewitnesses, tree branches, bamboo sticks, wooden sticks and bricks were used to damage glass windows, dustbins, shops, signboards, CCTV cameras and rooms used by railway officials and employees.
The railway police station, parcel office and Railway Security Force office were also allegedly attacked. The students reportedly broke the gate of the booking office and attempted to enter the premises.
However, Abdul Momin, chief booking officer at the station, said the students failed to enter the booking office after breaking part of the gate.
“Nothing was taken from the office,” Momin said. He added that glass panels on the ticket-counter grills were broken and several computers were damaged.
The incident also caused panic among passengers waiting at the station. Several passengers said they were forced to move to safer locations after being chased or attacked amid the unrest. Some also alleged that their belongings were taken. No detailed official account confirming those allegations was immediately available.
The situation reportedly came under control at around 1:30 a.m. following efforts by the Rajshahi University proctorial body and other officials. The students subsequently left the station and returned to the university campus.
Those familiar with the situation said Rajshahi University Proctor and Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Md Mahfuzur Rahman Riton played a role in bringing the situation under control.
“I will not apologize even a bit”: RU GS
Following the incident, Rajshahi University General Secretary Salauddin Ammar said in a Facebook post that he would not “apologize even a bit” over the students’ actions in response to the alleged assault.
He wrote that the extent to which students are subjected to physical confrontation in such situations had perhaps become clear through the incident.
Ammar also claimed that no ordinary person was harmed during the protest. He said that if compensation was required, it should be recovered from those allegedly responsible for assaulting the students, and that any legal case should be filed against those involved in the alleged assault.
He further said that the students would seek accountability for what he described as every drop of blood shed in the incident.
Earlier in the evening, Ammar had demanded the arrest of those allegedly involved in the assault on Ayub Ali and urged railway authorities to take action.
According to his account, Ayub was not a passenger on the train. He alleged that Ayub went to protest after a dispute involving students of the Department of English and was subsequently assaulted.
Allegations of negligence by railway officials
An employee working at the station, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that senior railway officials failed to give adequate attention to the situation and its management.
The employee claimed that students arrived at the station and carried out the alleged vandalism nearly five hours after the initial incident, leaving sufficient time for senior officials to intervene and resolve the dispute.
The employee also questioned the roles of station manager Ahmad Hossain Masum and Chief Commercial Officer Ahsanullah Bhuiyan. These allegations, however, were made by the employee and could not be independently verified.
Attempts were made several times to contact Ahmad Hossain Masum, general manager of Western Railway, on his official mobile phone for comment on the allegations of administrative failure, but he did not answer the calls.
No railway official was reportedly seen at the station during the period when efforts were being made to resolve the situation.
Ticket inspection dispute at the center of incident
A ticket checker working at the station, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident began when a ticket checker asked a Rajshahi University student to show his ticket at the platform entrance.
According to the ticket checker, the student reacted aggressively and at one point allegedly grabbed and pulled the uniform of a Railway Security Force member. A scuffle subsequently broke out between the two sides, he said.
The ticket checker said railway authorities had tightened ticket checks to prevent passengers without valid tickets from entering the platform.
However, the precise circumstances that led the dispute to escalate into a physical confrontation would need to be established through an impartial investigation.
Four Railway Security Force members suspended
Meanwhile, four Railway Security Force members have reportedly been suspended in connection with the incident at Rajshahi Railway Station, according to railway sources.
They were identified as Md Arif Hossain (staff number C-989), Md Rokon Uddin (C-883), Md Shafiqul Islam (C-1321) and Md Shahadat Hossain (C-600).
The action was reportedly taken by Western Railway Chief Commandant Ashabul Haque. Details of the specific allegations against the four members and the procedure under which the action was taken were not immediately available.
Chief Booking Officer Abdul Momin reiterated that the students failed to enter the booking office after attempting to break through its gate. He said nothing was stolen, but glass panels at the ticket counters and several computers were damaged.
Calls for an impartial investigation
The incident has raised calls for an impartial investigation into all aspects of the confrontation.
Those familiar with the matter said the allegation that a Rajshahi University student was assaulted should be investigated seriously. At the same time, allegations of vandalism at the railway station, damage to public property and theft of passengers’ belongings, if substantiated, should also be investigated independently.
Questions have also been raised over whether railway authorities and the administration took adequate measures to protect the station, public property and passengers during the escalating situation.
Rather than treating the allegations or statements of any one side as conclusive, investigators should examine eyewitness accounts, CCTV footage, records of property damage and other available evidence to establish what happened.
Any person found responsible on the basis of verified evidence should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
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