Train operations from Dhaka to different destinations resumed more than four hours after students from Government Titumir College ended their road and rail blockade.
The blockade, initiated as a protest to demand university status for their institution, had brought train services and traffic in parts of Dhaka to a standstill.
Students of the Government Titumir College lifted their road and rail blockade around 4:00pm on Monday. Following this, on-duty army personnel and railway police signalled the railway authorities to resume train operations.
As a result, trains on various routes from Dhaka’s Kamalapur station, serving both eastern and western regions, began departing at approximately 4:30pm.
The students said they will come up with fresh programmes later.
Kamlapur Station Master Md Anwar Hossain said, "Today (Monday), all intercity trains left Kamalapur with delays of 3–5 hours. The delay was slightly longer
for local and commuter trains. The Mohanganj Express, scheduled to depart at 1:43 PM, finally departed at 4:30 PM after clearance from law enforcement.”
Earlier in the day, during a road blockade in Mohakhali, a group of unruly youths vandalised the intercity train Upakul Express, injuring several passengers, including women and children. Despite the incident, the train driver managed to bring it to Kamalapur. The train resumed its journey to Noakhali at 5:00pm. Subsequently, trains like Bonolota Express, Chattola Express, Silk City, and Kalni Express also departed.
Due to the disruption, many passengers were stranded at Dhaka’s Kamalapur and Airport railway stations, facing immense hardship.
“Some passengers waited all day at Kamalapur for their trains, while others contacted nearby bus counters or returned home,” said Station Master Anwar Hossain.
Despite the schedule disruption, no trains were cancelled on Monday, he added.
Railway Commandant Md Shafiqul Islam said that the railway authorities would not immediately file any cases regarding the attack on trains in Mohakhali.
The blockade was initiated by students of Government Titumir College at 11:00am on Monday, demanding the institution’s conversion into an autonomous university. The protest disrupted traffic on both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
The procession reached the Mohakhali rail crossing near Amtali intersection around 11:30am. At 11:45am, the students attempted to stop the Upakul Express train from Noakhali heading to Dhaka. During this time, some unruly individuals pelted the train with stones. Despite the situation, the train continued at reduced speed toward its destination.
Two intercity trains, the Agnibina Express bound for Tarakandi in Jamalpur and the Bonolota Express heading to Dhaka from Chapainawabganj, were halted in Mohakhali.
The blockade also brought public transportation in Mohakhali’s Amtali and Arjatpara rail crossing areas to a standstill between 11:30am and 4:00am.
While some buses from outside Dhaka reached the Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal via Badda and Gulshan, no buses departed from Mohakhali.
This left passengers from the greater Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Dhaka divisions in distress.
Although road traffic on the Mohakhali flyover and the roads below it was halted, the elevated expressway remained operational.
Kazi Masud, a leader of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association, said, “For any issue, buses are arbitrarily stopped, causing unimaginable suffering to passengers. The blockade enforcers fail to understand this. Such disruptions lead to financial losses for bus owners and workers, who are increasingly discontent with these incidents.”
