CU authorities suspend commuter train service “to maintain peace on campus”

Chittagong University (CU) authorities have suspended commuter train services “to avert unrest and maintain peace on campus” as the quota movement continues.

Students demonstrating for quota reform said the authorities had stopped train services to hinder their march to campus.

CU professor Dr Ohidul Alam said, “We have suspended the train service because it has come to our knowledge that a group of people will come to the campus from the city on a commuter train to disturb peace and order on the campus. We will monitor the situation throughout the day. If discipline is maintained, the train will run from Wednesday.”

Due to the train closure, students traveling from the city to campus are facing transportation problems.

Rezwanur Rahman, a student at the Faculty of Botany, said: “The shuttle is our only means of transport. We depend on it to get to the city and do important things. The campus is 22 kilometers away and the long bus ride is already exhausting enough. I don’t understand how blocking shuttles will prevent accidents. While those who want to take part in protests may still find ways to do so, students who need to go to the city for important reasons face considerable difficulties.”

On Monday, BCL activists attacked students protesting against the quota on the CU campus. Pictures and videos of homemade weapons used in the attack are circulating.

CU student Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi was picked up from the shuttle train by BCL activists at noon. They were later forced to release him in the supervisor’s office under pressure from protesters.