Kushtia, Saturday—Thousands of residents from at least five unions surrounding Islamic University (IU) staged a protest and blocked the Kushtia-Khulna Highway to oppose the relocation of the IU police station. The demonstrators felled trees and burned tires on the highway starting from 11 AM, demanding that the police station remains within the university premises. University students also joined the protest. Local residents warned, “We shed blood for the establishment of Islamic University, and if necessary, we will shed blood again to protect our demands.” The president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that the police station ensures security for 20,000 students and locals. If another station is needed in Jhaudia, authorities should build a cantonment there instead, but IU’s station must not be relocated.