Titumir students block road, railway in Mohakhali

Students of Government Titumir College blocked the road in Mohakhali area for a second time on Monday, demanding that their institution be converted into a university.
They were staging demonstrations in front of the college until filing of this report at 6:30 pm, report agencies.
Earlier, at about 11:00 am, they took out a procession and blocked the Mohakhali railway line and the road to press home their demand. After a 12-member delegation of the students left for the secretariat for discussion, the demonstrating students left the road at about 4:00pm.
But after the discussion, the delegation members announced a fast-unto-death programme in front of the secretariat. On hearing the news, the students blocked the Mohakhali road again at 6:30 pm.
The students claimed that after the earlier demonstration, officials at the education ministry retreated from their earlier position, prompting the renewed blockade. They also said that 12 of their representatives   started a hunger strike at the ministry.
Habibur Rahman, a third-year student of English department, told bdnews24.com: "After our protest this morning (Monday), 12 of our representatives went to the ministry. They were told that within three days, a commission would be formed to convert Titumir College into a university. But after the evening, the ministry officials backed out, saying that the commission would not be formed. That's why we are back on the road."
Banani Police Station chief Russell Sarwar said, "The students are back at the college entrance, and traffic has again been blocked on both sides. We have been notified and are heading to the scene."
Earlier in the morning, the protest blocked the roads from Banani to Tejgaon, Tejgaon to Banani and Mohakhali's Amtoli to the Jahangir Gate area. It also cut off Kamalapur Railway Station from the rest of the country.
"Titumir College students have blocked the road to demand a university," said Kamalapur Station Master Md Anowar Hossain. "We have learnt that a train has been blocked in the area, but are not yet sure which one it is. I spoke to the control room and they said that no trains are departing now."
During the demonstration, several people including children were injured in an attack on a train.
Joynul Abedin, officer-in-charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said four Dhaka-bound trains and another train that was set to leave Dhaka remained stranded since the students put up barricades on the rail tracks in the morning.
He said Kamalapur-bound Parabat Express train came under attack in Mohakhali around 11:30am, leaving some people including children injured. He, however, could not provide the exact number of the injured.
The rail communication of Dhaka with other parts of the country, however, resumed as the students withdrew their blockade after four hours.
Joynul Abedin, officer-in-charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said the rail communication with Dhaka resumed around 4:20 pm.