At least five trains have been set on fire in the last one and a half months as miscreants have targeted the railway sector amid a spate of blockades and hartals enforced by the BNP and like-minded parties to unseat the government.
Five people have been killed in these incidents, while many others sustained injuries.
However, the administration is shaken, especially after the train fire incident in Tejgaon early Tuesday. Security measures have been increased around the railway stations with different forces, including detectives, carrying out special search operations, with the general election only two weeks away.
According to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite force is conducting operations against the suspected criminals involved in various criminal and sabotage activities around the railway station areas.
The National Security Intelligence (NSI) is working with RAB in these operations. Besides, members of other law enforcement agencies are also on the ground to prevent vandalism and arson attacks.
The joint teams are conducting searches of the suspects and the bags carried with them so that the miscreants cannot carry any inflammable material or illegal goods. Round-the-clock patrolling and robust patrols have been strengthened to prevent miscreants from staying in the Kamalapur Railway Station area under any circumstances. Strict surveillance is being kept on those who set fire to the train through detectives.
Nine people were arrested on charges of sabotage in the joint operation of NSI and RAB at the Capital Airport Railway Station on Thursday night. Earlier, a team of RAB-3 raided Kamalapur Railway Station in the afternoon. The agency said that these intelligence surveillance operations continued on Friday.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have suspended the operations of several trains to avoid the ongoing blockade and sabotage. Apart from this, the authorities have appointed 2,700 Ansar members from the Ministry of Home Affairs to guard the rail tracks.
In this context, RAB-1 Commander Lt Col Muhammad Mostaq Ahmad said there has recently been vandalism on the railways. Law enforcers and various intelligence agencies are working to prevent this sabotage.
“We will ensure railway security in coordination with the Railway Security Force and other intelligence agencies. Until the safety of train passengers is ensured, our campaign will continue. We will provide whatever support is needed for the smooth travel of the passengers. There are intelligence agencies and our people in plain clothes at various railway stations. We are monitoring the arrival and departure of trains. Hopefully, the vandals will not dare to do such things again,” he added.
RAB-3 Commander Lt Col Arif Mohiuddin Ahmed said: “Already there is an attempt to sabotage Mohonganj Express in Tejgaon area of Dhaka, a commuter train in Tangail, Parabat Express in Moulvibazar, and Brahmaputra Express train in Dhaka Cantonment area, disrupting the public safety of the country.”
The force has tightened security at Kamalapur Railway Station to protect people's lives and property amid the political chaos. “RAB-3 is providing round-the-clock patrolling to ensure that miscreants cannot stay in the station area under any circumstances,” he said.
He further said that RAB is determined to suppress any subversive activity and maintain a normal law and order situation. A strict vigil is being kept on those who set fire to the train through various detectives.
He added: “With the aim of strengthening overall security, a robust patrol is being conducted in the areas under the jurisdiction of RAB-3 in combination with multiple patrols. Special security patrols have been kept ready at important points. Also, intelligence surveillance continues in plain clothes to ensure overall security.”
