An arson attack occurred on a coach of the Titas Commuter Train parked for shunting at Akhaura Railway Station in Brahmanbaria.
Eleven seats in the ‘T’ coach were burned and damaged. Flammable substances resembling petrol or diesel were also found on seats in the adjacent ‘J’ coach.
The Railway Security Force has detained two people for questioning in connection with the incident.
The fire broke out around 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday (11 November) on the shunting line on the north side of the station, near the Railway Government High School.
Railway sources said the Dhaka-bound Titas Commuter Train from Akhaura had been parked on the shunting line after washing. Unknown persons then set fire to its ‘T’ coach. Station authorities, members of the Railway Security Force (RNB), Ansar, and the Fire Service reached the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Seven two-seater and four four-seater seats in the coach were damaged. In the neighbouring ‘J’ coach, petrol- or diesel-like flammable substances were found sprinkled on the seats. Officials said the fire was brought under control quickly, preventing major damage.
Following the incident, a raid was conducted in the washing pit area and two suspects—Roni (26) and Morsalin (18), both from Cumilla—were detained. The Railway Security Force later handed them over to Akhaura Railway Police Station.
Because of the incident, the Titas Commuter Train departed for Dhaka about one and a half hours behind schedule.
Akhaura Railway Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Kuddus said efforts are continuing to identify and arrest those involved, and necessary legal action is being taken.
This incident comes amid reports of countrywide sabotage and subversion. Two days earlier, another coach of a different train—the Haor Express—was also torched.