Students block railway in Rajshahi; oppose Dhaka, DU dominance in all sectors
Bangladesh must be freed from the dominance of Dhaka and Dhaka University, protesters say
Bangladesh must be freed from the dominance of Dhaka and Dhaka University, protesters sayStudents blocked railway tracks in the Rajshahi University (RU) area on Wednesday, demanding an end to Dhaka University- and Dhaka-centric dominance in power and appointments across all sectors and calling for decentralization.The group, led by Salauddin Ammar, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement based at RU, initiated the blockade in the morning in the university's Station Bazar area and chanted slogans.The protesters complained that from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to advisory council appointments, Dhaka and Dhaka University dominate everywhere.
They said they demand equal recruitment opportunities across the country, moving beyond Dhaka centralization.This country must be freed from the dominance of Dhaka and Dhaka University, they reiterated.Salauddin said: "We do not accept this dominance. We demand a complete restructuring of everything from the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) to the UGC."The railway authorities said that no trains would depart from or arrive at Rajshahi before 2pm.They also mentioned that if the blockade is lifted before that time, train operations will remain unaffected.
