Train services disrupted due to Gazipur students' protest against university name change

Train Services Disrupted as Gazipur Students Protest University Name Change

• Students in Kaliakair, Gazipur, have blocked the Dhaka-Tangail railway line demanding that the name of Digital University be changed to Bangladesh Digital University.
• Protesters argue that the current name does not adequately reflect the university’s national identity.
• Over 100 students participated in the demonstration, which began at 9:00 AM on Monday at Kaliakair Hi-Tech Railway Station, disrupting rail communication between Dhaka and northern regions.
• Students, including Yunus Ali and Sajib, stated that the name Gazipur Digital University does not clearly represent the institution’s status and identity. They demand recognition as Bangladesh Digital University to establish its academic and technological importance at the national level.
• Protesters have declared that they will continue their movement until their demand is met.
• The Student Forum submitted a memorandum on February 20 to the University Grants Commission (UGC), ICT Division, and Gazipur District Administration, urging them to implement the name change.
• The protest started at 8:00 AM on Monday, with students marching from the university’s administrative building to Kaliakair Hi-Tech Railway Station, where they occupied the railway tracks.
• Hi-Tech Station ticket booking officer, Alam, stated that students briefly allowed the Sirajganj Express to depart at 10:50 AM after requests from relatives of sick passengers. However, they continued to block the tracks, causing the Burimari Express to halt at Mouchak Station, affecting passengers.
• Abul Khayer Chowdhury, Station Master of Joydebpur Rail Junction, confirmed that the Dhaka-Tangail railway line remains blocked, with only one train, Sirajganj Commuter, able to pass through since the morning.
• University Proctor Rakib Hossain stated that an emergency meeting was held on Saturday to discuss the name change issue.
• The protest follows a notification issued by the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs on February 13, officially naming the university Gazipur Digital University.
• Since then, students have been organizing human chains, protests, and demonstrations demanding the renaming to Bangladesh Digital University.