The candidates who passed the 47th BCS preliminary exam blocked the railway line in Rajshahi on Saturday afternoon, demanding that the written examination scheduled for Thursday be postponed.
Local sources said over 3,000 passengers were stranded across the northern part of the country on Saturday after Rajshahi University (RU) students blocked railway tracks for more than five hours in protest against the upcoming 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) written examination.
The blockade began around 3:30pm near Rajshahi Railway Station, where students set fire to part of the adjacent market and occupied the rail line, demanding the postponement of the exam and protesting what they described as excessive police action during earlier demonstrations.
As a result, four major trains, including the Banalata Express, Padma Express, Rohanpur Commuter, and Dhalarchar Express, were halted at various stations along the Dhaka–Rajshahi–Pabna–Chapainawabganj corridor. While no trains were officially cancelled, services remained suspended throughout the evening.
Passengers endured long delays without adequate food, water, or official updates.
“I’ve been sitting on the train since 4pm,” said Shafiqul Islam, a passenger on the Padma Express. “We only found out later that students are blocking the tracks. Thousands are suffering because of this.”
Another traveller, Shyamoli Islam, expressed frustration, saying: “Protests should be resolved through dialogue, not by halting public transport. Innocent people are paying the price. We hope for a quick solution.”
Abdul Awal, assistant chief operating superintendent of Western Zone Railways, said: “Four trains are stranded at different stations. No cancellations yet, but operations will resume only after the track is cleared and safety verified.”
Technical teams inspected the line after the fire was extinguished and reported no structural damage.
“We are not against the BCS exam,” said an organizer. “But how can we sit for it amid repression? Our right to peaceful protest must be respected.”
They also called for an independent inquiry into recent clashes with law enforcement and urged the government to engage in meaningful dialogue.
By 8:30pm, the protesters withdrew following discussions with local administration officials. No injuries were reported, though minor property damage occurred at the station market.
