The government has identified 632 railway points as extremely vulnerable where acts of sabotage may take place any time, and deployed some 3,792 security personnel to ensure smooth running of trains. “Some 1,050 more security personnel are also going to be deployed at these spots to thwart any attempt at disrupting train services or destroy governmentproperty,” railway minister Mazibul Haque told journalists at his Rail Bhaban office on Thursday.
According to the minister, the Bangladesh Railway suffered a loss of Tk. 6 crore owing to destruction of property by Opposition political activists during the 71-hour blockade. The activists, mainly Jamaat-Shibir men, damaged railway engines and wagons, uprooted rail tracks and removed fishplates across the country, he said. “Three engines and 12 wagons were damaged during the three-day blockade,” he added.
The activists went on the rampage in several districts, vandalising and torching trains and vehicles, and exploding bombs. The minister pointed out that rail tacks were uprooted in 8-10 places, with the worst one taking place at Brahmonbaria. Miscreants stole about 656 feet of rail tracks on the Brahmonbaria–Akhaura route between Imambari and Koshba stations.
With this fresh loss (during the 71-hour blockade), the total amount of loss the Bangladesh Railway suffered during the last few months as a result of political violence since the announcement of war criminal Sayedee’s judgement by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) stood at Tk. 32 crore.
The minister, however, said that rail communication resumed fully after repairing of all affected rail tracks by Thursday afternoon.
He urged local people to remain alert so that evil forces, such as the Jamaat-Shibir, could not damage railway property. “We have instructed all district administrations, local government officials, political leaders, public representatives and social leaders to be alert and come forward to protect public property,” he added.
-With The Independent input
