Some persons, allegedly belonging to the Jamaat-Shibir, on Tuesday set five compartments, including two AC coaches of the intercity Suborna Express, on fire at Chittagong railway station. The train was scheduled to leave for Dhaka at 7am. Two youths have been arrested. However, no casualties were reported. The incident took place after the train reached the platform just two hours before the departure. The extent of damage was estimated at Tk. 2 crore.
This is the second largest sabotage carried out by miscreants in recent times in the east zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR). On April 2, miscreants removed fish-plates causing derailment of seven coaches and the locomotive of the Chittagong-bound Turna Nishita intercity train in the Paduar Bazar area, between Laksam and Comilla, hours before dawn.
Zakir Hossain Sumon, Chittagong divisional transportation officer (DTO), who is also heading the probe into the April 2 incident, told The Independent: “Even though we have estimated the extent of damage to be Tk. 2 crore, it might go up.” He added that it would take at least two months to repair the damage.
The BR authorities suspended four railway men, including Chittagong railway station master Mahbubur Rahman and three members of the Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) for their negligence. The authorities also formed two probe bodies, each comprising four members. They have been asked to submit their report within two days.
The chief operating superintendent (COPS) of East Zone, BR, Mohammad Mia Jahan, will be the convener of one probe team and the Chittagong divisional commercial officer (DCO), Mohammad Rokonuzzaman, will be the convener of the other one.
According to the Chittagong DCO, miscreants set the five compartments afire by pouring petrol around 4:45 am, just five minutes after it reached the platform.
“We rushed to the station after being informed by the platform station master (PSM), Shafi. We immediately informed the fire brigade,” he added.
Two fire tenders from nearby Agrabad and Nandankanon rushed to the spot at 4:58 am and brought the fire under control by 5:50 am.
The two arrested youths were identified as Asgar Mohammad Ehsan (23), son of late Abdus Sobhan of Chandpur headquarter in Chandpur district, and Mithu Mia (24), son of Nayeb Ali of village Halud Bihar in Badorgasi upazila of Naoga district. The officer-in-charge of Chittagong GRP station, Ahsan Habib, told The Independent that during preliminary interrogation Ehsan admitted to his involvement with the Islami Chhatra Shibir.
“We are interrogating them and have launched a search for the other culprits,” he added.
However, the BR authorities did not cancel the Suborna Express. The train was delayed by two hours and left for Dhaka around 9 am after two coaches were replaced.
-With The Independent input
