The much anticipated happy train journey becomes a nightmare for passengers as agitators vandalise and set fire to a number of trains and railway tracks during the ongoing anti-government movement.
Panic has gripped railway passengers as incidents of arson and vandalism centring trains are increasing day by day. Incidents of arson and vandalism on trains have turned out to be life-threatening for both commuters and railway staff.
Authorities have identified 632 locations across the country as vulnerable between railways and railway installations following an increase in vandalism and arson during the blockades.
After arson attacks, the railway authorities have arranged additional lighting, CCTV cameras, and police members in the station areas.
At least 10 acts of vandalism have been carried out on the railway including arson and the removal of fishplates along the railway tracks in the last one month.
Thousands of passengers had to suffer as many trains were stuck midway due to fire on the trains, uprooting of railway lines and fishplates at various places.
The train journey which was considered safe compared to other modes of journey, has now become risky due attacks on trains by the BNP-Jamaat miscreants.
Dhaka Divisional Commercial Officer of Bangladesh Railway Shah Alam Kiran Shishir said, Railway Locomaster, Assistant Loco master and Sub Locomaster have been instructed to wear helmets during the strike-blockades. Apart from this, members of law-and-order forces have been increased to ensure security at various train stations.
He said that incidents of arson and vandalism are happening in railways during hartal-blockade. However, maximum measures have been taken to ensure the safety of passengers.In the ongoing anti-government
movement, apart from public transport, the agitators have also targeted trains. In such a situation, there is no option to deploying additional police on every train to keep the trains safe.
Railway sources said that Ansar members have been ordered to perform duty along with the police at each railway station. To prevent vandalism, additional police will be on duty at major stations from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, and again from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. Along with the police, Ansar members will also be on duty in three shifts.
Railway Assistant Superintendent of Police Urmi Dev said, “There is a demand for deployment of three policemen in each train. But it is not possible due to lack of manpower. Now we have demanded additional police to prevent vandalism in trains. Soon we will be able to deploy a sufficient number of policemen in every train.”
Chattogram Divisional Railway Manager Md Saiful Islam said, “There is no plan yet regarding Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB). However, extra precautions have been taken to prevent vandalism. An important decision has been taken to keep important railway facilities of Chattogram safe.”
On December 2, miscreants removed nuts and bolts from Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka rail line in Ramu upazila, causing an almost half-an-hour delay of the Cox’s Bazar Express train leaving the Cox’s Bazar station.
Unidentified miscreants set fire to a train standing at Ishwardi Junction Railway Station in Pabna on November 27.
Unidentified miscreants set fire to a coach of the intercity Upaban Express, which was parked at Sylhet railway station around 9:30 pm on November 22.
On November 22, police foiled a sabotage attempt of miscreants to derail a train in Fatullah on Dhaka-Narayanganj route.
Miscreants attached a heavy iron plate to the rail line at Kotolerbagh in an attempt to derail the train. On information, police rushed to the spot and removed the iron plate from the rail line.
On November 19, miscreants set fire to two compartments of the Jamuna Express train, which was stationed at Jamalpur's Sarishabari railway station.
On November 16, miscreants set fire to the railway line in Dinajpur’s Birampur upazila.
A Dhaka-bound commuter train of the Bangladesh Railway was set on fire at Tangail Railway Station at Gharinda in the Tangail district on November 15.
On November 13, miscreants set ablaze five railway sleepers over the Golaghat (Matikata) river in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway.
On November 6, Jamaat-Shibir activists protested by burning tires on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway. Miscreants also set fire to the Dhirasram area between Joydebpur-Tongi station.
Unidentified attackers hurled a crude bomb at the Maitree Express train near Ishwardi junction in Pabna, resulting in damage to a window of the train compartment on November 1.
According to railway sources, 263 trains are currently plying the country. 850 people are employed as Locomaster, Assistant Locomaster and Sub Locomaster in operating these trains.
Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said BNP is wasting the wealth of the country and wasting the wealth of railways in the name of hartal-blockade. In the past few days, BNP-Jamaat has set fire to vehicles and trains in various parts of the country, as they did during 2014 and 2018 elections.
“The train arsonists are being prosecuted and they will be brought to justice” he added.
