30 injured in clash, trains halted for 5 hours as playground conflict reaches Bhairab Bazar Station

During the clash, hundreds of passengers at Bhairab Bazar Railway Station ran to safety

At least 30 people including eight police members have been injured in a clash that stemmed from a conflict over a football match in Kishoreganj’s Bhairab.

A clash between two groups continued for nearly five hours from Thursday evening until around midnight, during which members of both groups occupied the platforms of Bhairab Bazar Station and vandalised several rooms, including the stationmaster’s office.

This led to halt of train services on the Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Chattogram and Chattogram-Mymensingh routes for about five hours.

Five trains remained stranded at nearby stations.

More than 100 personnel from the Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Railway Police and Railway Security Force were deployed to bring the situation under control.

The Upazila administrator (UNO) also rushed to the scene and tried to stop the violence.

Train services resumed around 1:30am after the situation calmed down, according to Bhairab Bazar Station Master Md Yusuf.

He said several rooms at the station were damaged during the attack and vandalism.

According to locals, tensions had been brewing since a football match between young men from Panchabati and Jagannathpur in Bhairab Municipality about two weeks ago.

An argument during the match escalated into a fight between players from the two areas.

The dispute flared up again around 7pm on Thursday when a 17-year-old from Jagannathpur, identified only as Liam, was allegedly assaulted by youths from Panchabati.

As news of the incident spread in Jagannathpur, residents of the two villages gathered at Bhairab Station, occupied platforms 1 and 2, and got involved in a violent clash.

Railway police were the first to respond, followed by members of Bhairab Police Station, RAB from the Bhairab camp, the Railway Security Force and, finally, the Army.

Their initial efforts to stop the violence, however, were unsuccessful.

Rail communication on the route remained suspended during the clash, leaving several trains stranded at nearby stations.

The affected trains included the Mahanagar Godhuli coming from Chattogram, the Parabat Express from Sylhet, the Kishoreganj-bound Egarosindhur Godhuli from Dhaka, the Chattogram-bound Mahanagar Express from Dhaka, and the Bhairab-bound Narsingdi Commuter service from Dhaka.

All remained halted until around 1am.

Passengers suffered severe disruption, while hundreds at Bhairab Bazar Station were seen running for safety during the violence.

Bhairab Railway Police Station chief Abu Sayeed said the situation was brought under control after prolonged efforts by law-enforcing agencies.

Bhairab UNO AKM Mamunur Rashid said, “We proceeded cautiously, keeping the safety of passengers and property in mind. That is why it took some time.”