4 killed in arson attack on Mohanganj Express train
Staff Reporter :
In a gruesome incident, at least passengers, including a mother and her minor son, were killed when unidentified miscreants set Mohanganj Express train on fire at Tejgaon Railway Station in the capital Dhaka early Tuesday.
Fire service media cell’s official Shahjahan Shikder confirmed the matter to the media saying that three units of Tejgaon fire station brought the blaze under control at around 6:45am. The arson took place shortly after 5:00am, he said.
Two of the deceased were identified as Nadira Akter Popy, 32, and her three-year old son Yasin. Popy is the wife of one Mizanur Rahman of Netrakona district, who survived the attack with his another minor son.
The identities of other two male victims could not be ascertained immediately.
Mohammad Mohsin, Officer in Charge (OC) of Tejgaon Police Station, confirmed the matter to the media quoting the passengers that the train from Netrokona reached Dhaka in the early morning.
The passengers saw fire in the train while it was passing Khilket area. Later, the train was stopped at Tejgaon station.
It was seen in the mortuary of the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College & Hospital that the charred bodies of four passengers were lined up.
Giving a blank look on the lined up bodies, Mizanur Rahman was seen standing outside the morgue.
Meanwhile, a five-member probe body has been formed over the incident of setting fire to the train in Tejgaon area.
At the same time, the probe body has been asked to submit its report within five working days.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said miscreants have carried out the act of sabotage in the guise of train passengers. It is tough to stop this type of sabotage.
The safe rail journey is being hampered through the sabotage and terrorist activities.
The minister said this while addressing reporters after a meeting at Railway Bhaban on Tuesday morning.
On this issue, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said those who are calling hartal and blockade have set fire to the ‘Mohanganj Express’ train in Tejgaon in the capital early Tuesday (December 19).
“We suspect that the supporters of hartal and blockade, are responsible for setting fire to the ‘Mohanganj Express’ train in Tejgaon,” he said while briefing journalists after visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday noon.
