Bangladesh, Aug. 13 -- Rabindra University students demanding the construction of a permanent campus have escalated their protest by blocking the railway line in Sirajganj's Ullapara, halting rail communication between Dhaka and the Rajshahi, Khulna and Rangpur divisions.

The blockade began at 9am on Wednesday at Ullapara Railway Station.

At 1pm, students were still occupying the tracks despite the rain and poor weather conditions.

Six trains bound for Dhaka and the north of the country were stranded on both ends of the blockade, said Farid Ahmed, general manager of the Western Railway.

"Six trains are stuck on the line due to the blockade," he said, naming the Chilahati-bound Chilahati Express at Saratnagar Station, the Dhaka-bound S...