Rail services between Dhaka and Mymensingh were suspended for five hours on Sunday after students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) blocked the tracks to press a three‑point demand.
As part of their planned “Agri Blockade” programme, the students stopped the Dhaka‑bound Haor Express at Jabbarer Intersection, near the university campus, around 11am. The train was allowed to depart at about 12:45pm, but shortly after, protesters blocked the Mohonganj‑bound Mahua commuter train at 1pm, forcing authorities to halt all services on the route.
The students’ demands include creating 10th‑grade positions such as Sub‑Assistant Agriculture Officer or Sub‑Assistant Scientific Officer for agricultural science graduates in the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and other research bodies. They also want the BADC quota for promotion to the 9th grade scrapped unless candidates pass a recruitment exam, and for the title “Agricultural Scientist” to be legally reserved for those with a degree in agriculture or related fields.
Protesters also condemned derogatory remarks allegedly made by diploma holders on Facebook targeting female agriculturists. “We earn this degree after studying for five long years. If diploma holders can use titles similar to ours, then what is the significance of our degree?” said Rubel Ahmed, a student from the Faculty of Agriculture.
The blockade ended around 3:45pm after local officials assured the students that a meeting with the Adviser to the Agriculture Ministry would be arranged on Monday to discuss their demands.
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