Gazipur city mayor’s comments on Bangabandhu: Demonstrators set fire to rail track

Rail communication from Dhaka to other districts remained halted for around one and half hours today after some demonstrators set fire to railway tracks demanding punishment of Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam.

The demonstrators alleged that Zahangir recently made some controversial comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and about the number of martyred freedom fighters in a programme and the video went viral on social media, our Gazipur correspondent reports.

Photo: Star

Witnesses said some 200 men under the banner of Tongi West Thana Awami League and affiliated organisations began demonstrating around 5:30pm at Tongi Station Road, Cherag Ali, Hossain Market and Boardbazar area, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

The men then piled up garbage at different spots on the rail line and set fire to it, the correspondent reports quoting witnesses.

As a result, rail communication on this route was suspended for around one and half hours. At least, eight trains were delayed due to the incident, said Rakibur Rahman, Station Master of Tongi Railway Station.

Rail communication returned to normal around 7:00pm after police rushed to the spot and removed the demonstrators from the area, doused the fire and brought the situation under control, he added.

Photo: Star

Vehicular movement on Tongi-Ghorashal road was suspended for an hour. But vehicles used the Shaheed Ahsanullah Master Flyover to avoid trouble.

Gazipur city Mayor Zahangir termed the video's content false and fabricated.

In another video statement today, he also claimed that his rivals released the video by editing its' content on social media to make him and his party's position 'questionable'.