Blockaders disrupt train services

Five compartments of “Haor Express” derailed following removal of the fish plates from the railway tracks at Shyamnagar in Gauripur upazila of Mymensingh. Rail communications between Mymensingh and Netrakona remain suspended since 5:00am today. Photo: TV grab

Train services on Dhaka-Chittagong and Mymensingh-Netrakona routes remain suspended as miscreants damaged railway tracks and signal system in Brahmanbaria and Mymensingh early today ahead of opposition-called 48-hour blockade.

At least 10 people were injured as a train derailed after criminals removed fish plates from the railway tracks in Gauripur upazila of Mymensingh.

In a pre-dawn arson attack, opposition men set three bogies of a train on fire in Pabna.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition combine is enforcing the blockade of roads, rail and waterways, rejecting the schedule for 10th parliamentary election.

MYMENSINGH

Train service between Mymensingh and Netrakona came to a halt since 5:00am as five compartments of “Haor Express” derailed following the removal of the fish plates from the railway tracks, reports our correspondent quoting Hamidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gauripur Police Station.

The compartments of the Netrakona-bound train derailed at Shyamnagar in the upazila as unidentified criminals took away the fish plates of the rail lines, the OC said.

At least 10 passengers were hurt in the derailment, he said.

BRAHMANBARIA

Rail communication of Dhaka with Chittagong, Noakhali and Chandpur remains suspended as miscreants damaged the signal system and railway tracks in between Kosba Railway Station and Imambari of Akhaura Railway Station around 5:00am, said Amrito Lal Sarkar, stationmaster of Brahmanbaria station.

The railway authorities were trying to fix up the signal system and damaged railway tracks till 9:45am when the report was filed.

Two intercity trains from Chittagong to Sylhet — Udayan Express and Jalalabad Express got stuck at Comilla Railway Station following the incident.

Besides, the demonstrators set fire to a compartment of ‘Chattala Express’ at Imamabari Railway Station this morning but the fire was doused in minutes, said Md Abdul Motalib, superintendent of Akhaura Railway Station.

PABNA

A gang of opposition set three compartments of Sirajganj Express afire at Ishwardi Junction Yard around 1:00am.

One of the bogies was completely burnt while the rest were damaged partially before the firefighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire around 2:30am, said Pankaj Kumar, Pakshey divisional railway manager.

Later, Mostafizur Rahman, superintendent of the station, filed a case with Ishwardi Government Railway Police Station.

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the arson attack.

The miscreants blasted at least 50 crude bombs in the adjacent areas when the firefighters and police were rushing to the spot hearing the arson attack.

JESSORE

The agitators set fire to railway tracks near Rupdia Police Station around 9:30am, halting train movement for half an hour.