47th BCS preliminary qualifiers block railway in Rajshahi demanding written exam deferral

Candidates who passed the 47th BCS preliminary exam blocked the railway tracks in Rajshahi for nearly two hours today (22 November), demanding the postponement of the written examination scheduled to be started from 27 November.

The Rajshahi-Dhaka bound Padma Express and Rajshahi-Pabna bound Dhalarchar Express stuck at the Rajshahi Railway Station due to the blockade.

Rajshahi Railway Station Manager Ziaul Ahsan said the Padma Express scheduled to depart for Dhaka at 4pm could not leave because of the students' protests. The Dhalarchar Express, scheduled for 5:20pm to Pabna, was also stuck at the station. 

"We cannot risk putting passengers in unsafe conditions. That is why the Padma Express has not departed. The trains will leave once the protesters clear the tracks," he said.

Earlier around 4pm today, the preliminary qualifiers blocked the railway tracks near Rajshahi University Station Bazar, suspending rail communication between Rajshahi and the rest of the country. As of around 5:45pm, the blockade was still in place.

Mahbub Alam, a student of the Applied Chemistry Department at Rajshahi University and a candidate for the 47th BCS written exam, said, "The railway blockade programme will continue until there is a call for discussion from the PSC or the government's higher authorities."

"We also do not want to continue any programme that causes public suffering. But the PSC has forced us to take such steps," he added. 

Earlier today, students of Rajshai University gathered at the Buddhijibi Chattar and brought out a procession. After marching through different roads on campus, they blocked the railway tracks.

The candidates claimed that despite holding several meetings with the PSC chairman seeking a reasonable extension of time, the duration for preparation was not increased.

After the publication of the preliminary exam results, the PSC allocated only one and a half months and scheduled the written exam for 27 November, the shortest preparation time ever given for a BCS written exam. In previous years, candidates were allotted at least six months.

Mahbub further said that while others received six months, they were given only two months. "We are protesting to demand a reasonable amount of time," he said.