One dead, 4 hurt during Bangladesh Railway eviction drive

A man was killed and four others injured when a part of a concrete structure fell on them during an eviction drive by Bangladesh Railway (BR) at Sararchar Railway Station in Kishoreganj's Bajitpur upazila today.

Nimai Chandra Banik (25), son of Sunil Chandra Banik of Uttar Sararchar village in Bajitpur, died, while Antor Saha (18), Rubel Mia (24), Kamal Mia (37), and Siam Al Sadi of the same upazila were injured.

The injured were admitted to Bajitpur Upazila Health Complex.

The eviction drive began around 9:00am today, our Mymensingh correspondent reports.

"We repeatedly asked the onlookers to go to a safe zone when the illegal structures were being demolished, but some did not bother to do so. A concrete chunk fell upon the five youths, leaving them injured around 12pm," said Md Nazrul Islam, estate officer of BR, who led the drive.

Some 120 structures, including concrete and semi concrete, were demolished on one acre of railway land, said the official. But soon after the incident, the drive was postponed, the official added.

On information, police and fire fighters rushed to the spot and rescued the injured persons, he added.

Nimai Banik succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital, said officer-in-charge of Bajitpur Police Station Md Khalilur Rahman Patwary.