Fire on train in Mohanganj; banned AL activists possibly

A case has been filed at the railway police station regarding the arson attack on the intercity 'Haor Express' train in Mohanganj, Netrokona.

The case names an unspecified number of leaders and activists from the banned Awami League, an organization whose activities are currently banned, and its affiliated wings as the accused.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Mobarak Hossain, in-charge of the Mohanganj Railway Police Outpost, confirmed this information on Thursday morning.

Earlier, on Tuesday night, Alauddin, a train steward (passenger service staff) on the Haor Express, filed the case at the Mymensingh Railway Police Station.

According to local residents, railway police, and the station master, miscreants set fire to the intercity Haor Express train while it was stationed at the Mohanganj Railway Station around 6:00 AM on Tuesday (November 10). Four seats in the train's 'D' carriage were damaged by the fire. 

Upon noticing the flames, the train guard and service staff attempted to extinguish them using fire extinguishers; later on, the Fire Service arrived and fully brought the blaze under control. Train operations remained unaffected, and the Haor Express departed from Mohanganj station for Dhaka at its scheduled time of 8:00 AM.

Railway station sources stated that the intercity Haor Express, arriving from Dhaka, reached Mohanganj station at 5:10 AM on Tuesday. After the train stopped, the passengers disembarked, and the guard and staff also stepped out for a meal, leaving the train entirely empty. The fire occurred in the 'D' carriage, located on the western side of the station, an area outside the reach of CCTV camera coverage. The synthetic (rexine) covers on seats 5–6 and 11–12 of the carriage were destroyed by the fire.

Following the incident, the train steward, Alauddin, filed a case that same night at the Mymensingh Railway Police Station, naming an unspecified number of leaders and activists from the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations as the accused.

Zahirul Islam, the station master at Mohanganj Railway Station, confirmed that a case has been registered with the railway police. However, following the incident, several precautionary measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of trains and passengers. These include round-the-clock surveillance by the police from the moment a train enters the station. Various other security measures have also been put in place.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Mobarak Hossain, in-charge of the Mohanganj Railway Police Outpost, stated that no arrests have been made in the case so far. Operations are currently underway to identify and apprehend those involved.

NS