A bogie of the Titas Commuter train was set on fire while parked for shunting at Akhaura Railway Station in Brahmanbaria early Wednesday, damaging 11 seats.
Flammable substances, suspected to be petrol or diesel, were also found on seats in an adjacent bogie.
Two people have been detained by the Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) for questioning in connection with the incident.
The fire broke out around 3:40am on Wednesday on a shunting line beside the Railway Government High School, on the northern side of the station.
According to railway sources, the Dhaka-bound Titas Commuter train had been placed on the shunting line after completing its washing operations when unidentified individuals set fire to the carriage marked ‘Ta’.
On receiving the information, station officials, RNB members, Ansar personnel and Fire Service members rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control.
The fire damaged seven two-seater and four four-seater seats in the carriage. Meanwhile, a substance suspected to be petrol or diesel was found splashed on seats in the adjacent carriage marked ‘Ja’.
Officials said a major loss was averted as the fire was brought under control quickly.
Following the incident, RNB members conducted a raid in the washing facility area and detained two suspects, identified as Runi, 26, and Morshalin, 18. Both are from Cumilla. They were later handed over to Akhaura Railway Police Station.
The incident delayed the Titas Commuter train's departure for Dhaka by around one and a half hours.
Akhaura Railway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Quddus said efforts were underway to identify and detain those involved in the incident. Legal action was also being taken in connection with the case.