Hartal enforcers behind setting fire to train in Tejgaon: DMP chief
At least four people including a mother and her son have been killed as three compartments of Mohanganj Express train were set on fire in the city's Tejgaon today
The fire incident on Dhaka-bound passenger train Mohanganj Express, which killed four people, was an act of sabotage, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said today.
"Those who called for strikes and blockades are the ones who set fire to the Mohanganj Express train at Tejgaon. They have sabotaged trains like this before," the DMP commissioner said after visiting the people injured in the incident at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMHC) on Tuesday (19 December) afternoon.
"Under any circumstances, those who have caused this incident will not go unpunished. Those involved in each incident of bus-train arson have been arrested. They admitted that they did so on the orders of the central leaders and for the sake of politics," he added.
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Three coaches of the Mohanganj Express train were set on fire in the city's Tejgaon around 5:04am, Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters Media Cell Deputy Assistant Director Shahjahan Sikder said.
"Four people, including a mother and her son, died on the spot after the Mohanganj Express was set on fire at Tejgaon station. Their bodies have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue around 6am," said Kamalapur Railway police station Inspector Md Ferdous.
Two of the victims have been identified as Nadia Akter Popy, 32, and her son Yasin, 3. The other two male victims have not yet been identified.
Police said they would be identified after collecting DNA samples.
Witnesses said the Mohanganj Express had left from Netrakona for Dhaka.
After crossing the Airport Station at around 5am, the passengers noticed a fire on the train. Panicked passengers started screaming inside.
However, they said the lockmaster had not realised the train was on fire. They added the train had reached Tejgaon by the time he noticed the fire.
After the train stopped, the passengers started to get down in a hurry.
However, four people were trapped inside one of the three compartments that were charred in the fire.
On information, the Tejgaon unit of the fire service went to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Four bodies were recovered from inside the compartments.
Among the four who perished in the fire, were a mother and her son. They were burned to death as the mother embraced her child in a last bid to save him from the fire.
Nadia Akter Popy along with her brother Habibur Rahman Habib and two sons Yasin, 3, and Fahim, 8, were travelling to Dhaka from their village home.
She hails from Netrakona. Her father's name is Fazlur Rahman. She lived with her husband Mizanur Rahman in Tejkunipara, Tejgaon. Mizanur has a hardware business in Kawran Bazar.
The family went to their village home for a visit on 3 December.
Habibur, Nadia and her two sons got on the Mohanganj Express last night and were supposed to reach Dhaka early in the morning.
"The fire started at the back of the train at Tejgaon station. The fire spread to the entire compartment in very little time," Habibur said.
He said that he managed to get off the train with Fahim, adding Yasin and Nadia were trapped inside.
"We couldn't get them out. Later, the fire service brought out their bodies," he added.
A passenger named Nurul Haque, who was returning to Dhaka from his home town this morning was injured in the fire incident.
"I could just hear some screaming and shouting about fire. And then I jumped off the train," Nurul Haque said.
Recent incidents
Incidents of setting fire to trains and vehicles have been occurring frequently in the country since last month amid political tumult.
However, this is the first time people have been killed in such incidents.
On 16 November, Panchagarh Express, a commuter train on fire parked at Gharinda railway station in Tangail was set on fire.
Three compartments of the train were gutted in the fire.
Two compartments of the Jamuna Express train, which was stationed at Jamalpur's Sarishabari railway station on 19 November.
The incident occurred at around 1:15am, marking the second occurrence of a train being set ablaze amid the blockade and hartal programme called by the BNP.
On 23 November, an intercity train, Upaban Express was set on fire by unidentified people at Sylhet Railway Station.
The manager of Sylhet railway station Md Nurul Islam said that a fire broke out in the AC chair compartment of the train when it was standing at the station around 9:30pm.
A group of unidentified people set fire to a train at Ishurdi Junction in Pabna on 27 November.
"The train was set on fire while it was standing at the Ishurdi Railway Junction around 8:30pm," said ABM Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ishurdi police station.
No one was injured in the incident. Two units of the fire service brought the fire under control after half an hour.
