Assam: Dhubri shuts down as Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union announces 12-hour bandh

Normal life came to a standstill in Dhubri district, Assam on Thursday, September 11 as the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AARKSU) enforced a 12-hour bandh to press for its long-standing demands.

Reports from across the district confirmed that the shutdown was near total and passed off peacefully. One of the most striking impacts was seen in the education sector, with schools and colleges remaining shut. At Agomani Higher Secondary School, AARKSU supporters prevented teachers and students from entering the premises, sending them back home in the morning hours.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to students and parents, but this bandh is essential to make our voices heard,” a union member told reporters.

The bandh also disrupted transportation, with both public and private vehicles staying off the roads. National and state highways passing through Dhubri wore a deserted look, affecting daily commuters and small traders alike.

AARKSU has been spearheading agitations for several years, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch Rajbongshi community and the creation of a separate Kamatapur state. 

Thursday’s bandh was the latest in a series of protests aimed at intensifying pressure on the government to address these demands.