Bengal bandh: Are schools, colleges, and offices closed in WB today?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengal has called for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal today, from 6 am to 6 pm. This bandh is a response to police actions during student protests over a recent rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor in RG Kar, Kolkata. The protests had turned violent earlier in the week, leading to clashes between police and demonstrators during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' march in Kolkata and Howrah.

"Succeed in the 12-hour Bangla bandh called by BJP tomorrow to protest the brutal police attack on students, torture and insecurity of women in the state," tweeted BJP West Bengal.

The party has requested business organizations to keep markets closed during the bandh. While there is no official word from market committees about closures, public transport services are expected to be disrupted. Emergency services will continue to operate normally. Despite the bandh, government offices, banks, schools, and colleges are expected to remain open.


If the bandh proceeds as planned, public transportation disruptions are likely, and educational institutions might close as a consequence. However, no official notifications have been issued yet. Students and parents are advised to check with their respective schools for updates on potential closures.

The West Bengal government though has said that the administration will ensure normal life is not affected due to the bandh

"The government will not allow any bandh on Wednesday. We urge people not to participate in it. All steps shall be taken to ensure that normal life is unaffected," said Alapan Bandopadhyay, the chief advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.