Chittagong rail links restored after 11 hours

Chittagong’s rail links with Dhaka and Sylhet have been restored after 11 hours following ‘sabotage’ on tracks by miscreants during the BNP-sponsored blockade.

The engine and two carriages of the Mymensingh Express that went off the track at Baratakia of Mirsarari were removed around 2:30pm on Monday to make way for trains to run on one line.

Chittagong rail authorities had to cancel several trains services scheduled to leave the port city in the morning.

Eastern Zone's Transport Officer Firoz Ifetkhar told bdnews24.com that the Turna Nishita Express, which was stuck at Sitakunda, had started for Dhaka.

The 'Mymensingh Express' train derailed as Pandrol clips – used to fasten tracks with sleepers – of the railway line had been removed.

It caused the engine and carriages to spill over to another track blocking all train rinks to and from Chittagong.

According to railway official Ifetkhar, 120 Pandrol clips of around 126 feet tracks were removed and five including the driver of the train suffered minor injuries.

Two salvage trains from Chittagong and Laksham went to the scene and removed the derailed engine and carriages from the tracks.

Railway authorities have opened investigations to be conducted by a four-strong committee headed by Firoz Iftekhar.

The derailment had forced railway authorities to cancel five train services from Chittagong, which were scheduled to leave in the morning.

Hundreds of passengers and concerned relatives were seen waiting at the Chittagong train station after the news broke.

They remained stuck until 11am, after which the authorities announced the cancellations.

Buses, trains and other transports have been targeted by pro-blockade elements since BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia announced an indefinite nationwide transport blockade from Jan 5.

On Sunday, the railway authorities announced awards for citizens helping to nab these troublemakers.