Following a fire incident in the Benapole Express train at Gopi Bagh in the capital, authorities have declared the suspension of 31 pairs of trains nationwide.
Among them, 21 pairs consist of local, mail, and commuter trains departing from Dhaka to various destinations. Additionally, 10 pairs of trains operating in the western region have also been announced as temporarily closed.
Sources at the railways have confirmed this to Bangladesh Post on Saturday. On Saturday morning, Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Mohammad Masud Sarwar told the media, Balaka, Turag-1, Mahua, Karnaphuli, Titus-1, Rajshahi Express, Turag-3, Titus-2, Noakhali Express, Bhawal Express, Surma Mail, Dewanganj Commuter and Tangail. Commuter and eight local trains of Narayanganj will be closed.
He said that the trains will be closed on Saturday and Sunday (January 6-7).
In addition, on Saturday, General Manager of Western Region of Bangladesh Railway Asim Kumar Talukder said in a post on his Facebook page that due to unavoidable reasons, Benapole Express and Dhallachar Express trains will be suspended on January 6 and 7.
Besides Mahananda (up/down), Rocket (up/down), Padmarag (21/22), Rangpur Shuttle (97/98), Dhaka Commuter (99), Rajshahi Commuter (5/6) and Bogra Commuter (5/ 6) Train movement will be completely stopped on 6th and 7th January.
Apart from this, Chilmari Commuter and Local (462/455/456/461) will be completely closed on January 6 (partially) and January 7.
Earlier, on December 22, five pairs of trains were suspended to avoid vandalism due to political unrest and strike-blockade. At that time, it was said that these trains have been stopped as the night movement is considered dangerous.
The train left Benapole for Kamalapur station at 1 pm with 154 passengers. Benapole Express takes a break at 11 stations en route. There were 49 passengers on the train going to Kamalapur. The train is supposed to reach Dhaka around 9 pm. In between, a fire occurred on reaching Gopi Bagh in the capital. In this, four coaches of the train were burnt to ashes.
Four persons in these compartments died. Several people were burnt. They have been sent to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhaka Medical College (DHMC) Hospital.
Earlier on December 19, miscreants set fire to the Mohanganj Express at Tejgaon station in the capital. Three coaches of the train were completely gutted in the fire. Later, the bodies of four people, including a mother and a child, were recovered from a compartment.
