West zone railway stations on alert

Bangladesh Railway (BR) yesterday issued security alerts at all railway stations under West Zone following Saturday night's arson attack on three coaches of Silk City intercity train at Rajshahi Railway Station.
BR West Zonal General Manager Ferdous Alam told The Daily Star that they also sought assistance from the civil administration and law enforcers at divisional headquarters and districts to maintain security at railway stations and tracks. In this regard he said to have talked to the Rajshahi divisional commissioner, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Rajshahi Range Police and sent letters to deputy commissioners and superintendents of police at different districts.
“We need the support as Government Railway Police (GRP) is understaffed,” he said.
A five-member committee headed by the BR West Zone chief electrical engineer was formed to assess the exact loss, currently estimated to be around Tk 4.5 crore, he added.
“We sought police assistance in identifying the attackers,” said GRP DIG M Sohrab Hossain, adding that Jamaat-Shibir men, posing as train passengers, used flammable substances to ignite the fire.
“We had information of possible sabotage at Pabna on Saturday and provided forces at Ullapara and Pakshey,” said DIG of Rajshahi Range Police Mir Shahidul Islam, adding that they did not have any information about the Rajshahi attack.
A case was recorded with Rajshahi GRP Station under Special Powers Act over the attack.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Moniruzzaman said they have little capacity to help GRP after coping with street violence and general crime.