168 railway spots have been identified in Chittagong division, which are at risk of sabotage, due to political unrest. Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone decided to deploy 1,157 police and Ansar members at those spots. These members will be on guard for 24 hours. Instructions were given in this regard on a circular, signed by Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddiqui, Assistant Chief Operating Superintendent of the Eastern Zone of Railways on Thursday.
As mentioned in the instructions, railway tracks in vulnerable areas should be guarded round the clock by waymen, RNB and Ansar members day and night. So that patrolling is done at least once every one hour. Mobile numbers of Wayman, RNB and Ansar staff on duty should be preserved in each control office for constant communication in this regard. Apart from this, especially from 11 pm to 6 am, the railway tracks should be closely monitored.
Railway officials said that members of Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Security Force (RNB) are working to prevent vandalism. Besides the waymen who are in charge of railway inspection, they are also active in preventing sabotage. There are also plans to deploy police and Ansar members. However, it is difficult to fully secure this vast network of railways. It is difficult to prevent when someone vandalizes a passenger train. Those who are doing such things in the name of political agenda, need the cooperation of common people including passengers to prevent them. Campaigning is going on for this.
Director General of Bangladesh Railways, Kamrul Ahsan said that the recent accidents are creating obstacles in the normal train movement. Night trains have been reduced in speed. Trolleys are seen running every few hours on important railway lines. It has been decided to deploy police and Ansar members for security reasons.
