Train, road services resume in B'baria after 5-hour

Train services on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Chattogram routes resumed after a blockade lasting more than five hours was lifted in Brahmanbaria on Sunday.

Road traffic, including passenger and cargo vehicles travelling to India, also resumed on the Sultanpur-Chinair-Akhaura-Agartala road.

Residents of six villages under Basudeb Union in Brahmanbaria Sadar staged the blockade from 6AM at Titas Bridge and the Kodda Cabin area, demanding that the villages be reinstated under their original union.

The protest disrupted train services on two major railway routes, leaving several passenger trains stranded at different locations. Services of Parabat, Parjotak Express, Mahanagar, Subarna Express and Upakul Express were among those affected.

The protesters withdrew from the railway and road routes at around 11:15AM, following which normal movement gradually resumed.

According to local residents, six villages—Kodda, Baishnabpur, Shyamnagar, Korabari, Chandi and Barishal—were separated from Basudeb Union in May this year to form a new union named Barishal.

The newly formed union was attached to Akhaura Upazila, with a gazette notification published on June 4.

The protesters warned that they would stage similar demonstrations every day if their demand was not met.

Brahmanbaria District Council Administrator and District BNP General Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said discussions had been held with the protesters, following which they agreed to withdraw the blockade.