Students of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), blocked the Rangpur-Dhaka highway at the modern junction, the main entry point to Rangpur city, demanding the appointment of a vice-chancellor (VC) and protesting against alleged discrimination in university appointments.
As a result, all vehicular traffic, including buses and trucks, has been halted in eight districts, including Rangpur, Kurigram, and Lalmonirhat.
A 10-kilometre-long traffic jam has formed on both sides of the highway, causing severe disruption.
The blockade, which began at 12pm, left hundreds of passenger buses, minibuses, and goods-carrying vehicles stranded. Passengers are facing extreme hardships due to the standstill.
Earlier, at around 11:45am, BRUR students marched from the campus with placards demanding the appointment of a VC. They began their protest by blocking the highway at the modern junction.
The students accused the authorities of neglecting their university, claiming that BRUR has been without a VC for over 1.5 months. They pointed out that while other universities, such as Dhaka University, Jagannath University, and Noakhali University, have appointed VCs, their institution has been left out.
One of the protesters, Raihan Kabir, expressed frustration: "We have been discriminated against for a long time. Why has a VC not been appointed at our university? Our academic lives are in ruins. We have been protesting for a long time, and despite giving a 48-hour ultimatum earlier, nothing has been done."
Another protester, Shireen Akhtar, echoed similar sentiments: "While Noakhali University has received a VC, why haven't we? Are we to be discriminated against forever?"
The students also referred to Abu Sayed, a BRUR student who they claim was the first to die in the university's protests.
Abu Sayed became the first martyr protesting discrimination. We cannot accept that the position of VC, stained with his blood, remains vacant, they said.
Meanwhile, the students announced that their "North Bengal boycott" program would continue until their demands for a VC appointment are met. As of 2pm, hundreds of students were still occupying the highway.
Bus passengers caught in the 10km traffic jam expressed their frustration.
"We've been stuck here for two hours, and there’s no sign of any action from the authorities. Are we to remain hostages like this?" complained passenger Saidul Islam.
The protest and the highway blockade have brought transportation in northern Bangladesh to a standstill, with no immediate solution in sight.
