Rabindra University Students Block Sirajganj Highway Demanding Permanent Campus

Hundreds of students from Rabindra University staged a dramatic blockade on the Dhaka–North Bengal Highway in Shahjadpur on Sunday, demanding immediate approval and construction of a permanent campus. The protest began at 10:55 AM in the Dhopakandi area, halting traffic on major routes including Dhaka-Pabna, Dhaka-Rajshahi, and Dhaka-Bogura, causing severe disruption for commuters and transport operators.

The demonstration is part of an escalating movement that began on July 26, with students organizing human chains, sit-ins, and symbolic classroom sessions on the highway. Despite issuing a 48-hour ultimatum last week, no action was taken by authorities, prompting the renewed blockade.

Rabindra University, established nearly nine years ago, continues to operate from rented buildings. It currently serves over 1,200 students across five departments: Bangla, Sociology, Economics, Music, and Management with 34 faculty members and more than 160 administrative staff. A development project proposal worth Tk 519.15 crore was submitted to build a permanent campus on 100 acres of land, but it remains stalled pending approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Students expressed frustration over repeated delays and revisions to the proposal, questioning why the project has yet to be greenlit. “We are bleeding from our hearts because we cannot even properly respect Tagore,” said Zakaria, a postgraduate student of Sociology, referencing the university’s namesake, Rabindranath Tagore.

Police, who were informed in advance, redirected traffic through alternative city routes to manage the situation. Hatikumrul Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdur Rauf confirmed that authorities were monitoring the protest closely.

Organizers warned that if their demands are not met, they will intensify their movement in the coming days. The protest is being seen as a symbolic stand not only for infrastructure but also for preserving the legacy of Tagore and ensuring quality higher education in Bangladesh.