The west zone authority of Bangladesh Railway has declared red alert fearing more sabotage to railroad tracks during hartal being enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.
The rail authority has already received directives from the Home Ministry Sunday last. Besides, letters have been issued to the range deputy inspector generals of police (DIGs) of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna seeking adequate security for the railway operation.
Because of lack of adequate rail police and security personnel, it is apprehended that any major sabotage may be committed by the pro-hartal elements any day and at any time.
Aminur Rashid, chief commandant of railway security force for the west zone, said the ministry issued the direction in the wake of frequent sabotage to trains and railroad tracks in recent hartals.
He said security for all large establishments had been beefed up apprehending further attack and sabotage to railway especially at the sensitive railway establishments.
As part of the intensified security measures, no unidentified faces were being allowed to enter and suspected persons are being scanned. Railway Security Forces remained vigilant round the clock, he added.
Aminur said around 26 sabotage like torching train, uprooting tracks and attack on rail offices had taken place in the west zone railway during the shutdowns enforced by the 18-party alliance from March 1 to November 11 this year.
After getting the direction the west zone authority had taken up top security measures at its installations, junctions, rail bridges and engines and bogies including tankers to rein in sabotage by the pro-hartal elements.
The security measures of railway had been intensified further following the attacks on railway establishments. Besides railway’s own forces, police were also assisting them, and if necessary, co-operation from the Rab would be sought to ensure security and to resist sabotage to railroad tracks, he mentioned.
According to, the west zone covers three divisional towns and 22 districts under its 5,553.3-kilometre railway track.
There are 214 railway stations of which 144 are operational and 70 closed. All open railway stations are more or less important covering 20 junctions.
There are also 10 large and medium-size railway bridges on the route which have been identified as important.
Of these, Hardinge Bridge at Pakesy and Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in Sirajganj are the most important for their strategic locations.
