Burnt bogies, engine of Drutojan Express brought to Dinajpur

Drutojan Express, set ablaze by agitators after six of a crowd gathered on its track were killed in Sirajganj on Monday, was brought to Parbatipur Railway Station in Dinajpur district yesterday. The photo shows inside of a seriously burnt compartment.Photo: STAR

All 11 compartments along with the engine of Dhaka-bound Drutojan Express, which was severely burnt and damaged by angry mobs in Sirajganj, were brought to Parbatipur railway station yesterday.
The Railway engineers and officials of Parbatipur and Lalmonirhat examined the skeletons of the compartments and the engine while a six-member team started assessing the losses, according to Bangladesh Railway officials.
“I have never seen such damage due to fire in my life” said an official of Parbatipur railway station requesting anonymity.
Highly flammable chemicals were used for burning the train. But question arises about the place where the incident occurred as it was not easy to manage such materials including petrol there impromptu, the official added.
As the train arrived at Parbatipur railway station in the morning, thousands of people gathered at the station to have a glimpse of it.
After the incident, the authorities suspended movement of the train, Drutojan, for indefinite period. But the other two intercity trains - Tista and Dolonchapa - will be operating on Dinajpur-Dhaka route as usually, said Md Abdul Karim, station master of Parbatipur Railway station.
On the other hand, the present whereabouts of Asir Uddin, driver of Drutojan Express and the key witness of the incident, could not be known as the family members of him did not allow reporters on the pretext of his injuries on Tuesday.
When the residence of Asir Uddin was visited yesterday, his son-in-law Md Belal Hossain said that he (Asir uddin) was shifted to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital (RMCH).
The emergency department of RMCH, when contacted, informed that there was no patient of such name admitted there recently.
Dr. Idris Ali of Parbatipur Railway Hospital claimed that Asir Uddin was released as the family members requested him on Tuesday. He, however, added that he did not refer him (Asir Uddin) to any other medical college.