Noakhali rail link snapped

Trains were not plying between Noakhali and Dhaka on Sunday morning after miscreants, believed to be strike supporters, uprooted tracks at several places on the Noakhali-Laksham rail link.

Noakhali Railway Station Master Maniklal Das told bdnews24.com about sabotage on the tracks but could provide details.

Authorities are blaming supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami's sponsored two day strike for the sabotage on railway tracks.

Noakhali-bound ‘Noakhali Express’, that left Dhaka 8:00pm Saturday night, was forced to stay put in Natherpetua area at around 7:15am, said station master Maniklal Das.

Inter-city ‘Upakul Express’, that left Noakhali for Dhaka at 6:15am was forced to stay put at Choumohani, he said.

‘Miscreants’ set three coaches of inter-city ‘Dhumketu Express’ at Rajshahi railway station on fire on Saturday night.

Sabotage on rail tracks were reported from Sitakunda, Feni and Lalmonirhat, after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 pronounced death penalty for Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

Police and railway authorities blame Jamaat for the sabotage.

Meanwhile, Jamaat supporters engaged in vandalism and arson in Noakhali city during the early hours of the 48-hour nationwide strikre.

When stopped from taking out a procession, the Jamaat supporters fought pitched battles with the police, said Sudharam Police Station Officer in-Charge Mir Jahedul Haque Roni. Two were nabbed from scene.

One motorcycle was set on fire and some vehicles were vandalised in Dutterhat area of the city, bdnews24.com Noakhali Correspondent reported.

On the other hand, roads were seen blocked with logs and burning tyres in several areas of Companyganj and Sonaimuri. The Jamaat supporters regrouped each time police chased them away.

Twenty-seven Jamaat-Shibir men were nabbed in a raid by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday night in Adarshapara area, said Companyganj Police Station OC Sajedur Rahman. They were holding a secret meeting.

Shutdown supporters blocked traffic at Bemganj, Senbag and Chatkhil areas.

However, the overall situation was peaceful in the district, its Acting Police Superintendent Mahbubur Rashid told bdnews24.com. “Police were alert… Some sporadic events took place… but situation is under control.”