Shahzadpur Correspondent:

Agitating students of Rabindra University in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district on Sunday blocked the Dhaka–Pabna highway demanding a permanent campus and the resignation of Environmental Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan for her inaction in this regard.

On Sunday at 10:00 am, students of the university gathered near the BSCIC bus terminal area in Shazhadpur upazila headquarters and sat down there road blocking the highway that halts vehicular movement.

As a result of the blockade, traffic in both directions towards Dhaka and Pabna, came to a standstill. The congestion intensified, with long lines of vehicles forming on both sides of the road, causing distress to passengers and drivers.

During the programme, they raised various slogans demanding immediate approval of Rabindra University’s DPP.

Sources said, road communication between Pabna and Dhaka, Sirajganj, Bogra and the northeastern region was closed during their agitation. Thousands of people suffered greatly due to their movements.

Earlier, on Saturday, the students boycotted the Rabindra University Day programme, wore black badges, and formed a human chain to press home their demands.

In response, the university administration has suspended ongoing recruitment exams. Written and oral exams for the Bangla, Economics, and Management departments have also been postponed.

This was announced in a notice signed by Professor Dr Sumon Kanti Barua, who holds the additional responsibilities of pro-vice chancellor and registrar, on Friday.

Expressing solidarity with the protest, Shahjadpur Conscious Citizen Forum President Mirza Humayun said, “There is no need to acquire any land for the construction of Rabindra University. Rabindra University will be built on Rabindra Nath’s land.”

Notably, on June 16, Syeda Rizwana Hasan visited the proposed site for the permanent campus and said: “This demand is logical, but in Bangladesh, one must persist for a long time to achieve anything.”