At least five passengers were killed and over 100 others injured early on Wednesday when a train derailed after miscreants removed the fishplates in Gaibandha.
Gaibandha Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Assistant Director Kobad Ali Sarkar confirmed the death toll.
Kobad, who led the rescue team, said: “Four bodies were found first and during the rescue work we discovered another body inside the train.”
The sabotage took place at Shaghata Upazilla of Gaibandha during a nationwide blockade programme of the BNP-led 18-party alliance. The engine and three carriages of Padmara Train veered off the tracks in Burungi area near around 1:15am, Bonarpar Railway Station Master Ayub Hossain Mollah said.
Identities of the deceased could not be ascertained in the preliminary reports. Two Islami Chhatra Shibir activists were arrested over the incident.
“The accident occurred due to the removal of fishplates, and it was an act of sabotage,” said Gaibandha’s UNO Md Abdul Awal.
He added: “Only 10 minutes before the train crossed, a trolley had travelled the same rails, and the line was okayed. The miscreants, however, managed to remove the fishplates in those few minutes.”
“From our preliminary reports, we have determined that at least 20 people are involved in the incident.”
The arrested Shibir activists, Mohammad Saddam Hossain, son of Hafiz-r Rahman, and Dudu Mia, son of Taslim Uddin, were from Gobindganj upazila, local chairman said. Both are Shibir activists, Kochua Union Parishad Chairman Rofikul Islam said.
“They have cases pending against them.”
Railway communication of Boarpara with other parts of the country including Bogra, Shantahar remained suspended after the sabotage, Station Master Ayub said. But the rail authority expected the rail communication would resume before midnight.
A rescue train and Fire Service and Civil Defence began salvage operations, Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner M Zahurul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune. Rescue operations were on full-swing and the injured were sent to hospitals at around 7:30am, he said.
The railroads have been a key target during blockade and hartals, but this is the first time in recent times that such sabotage has caused death of any.
Main opposition BNP have been waging agitation, calling blocakdes and hartals, demanding national polls in line with their demand of non-partisan government.