Brahmanbaria blockade halts trains on Dhaka–Chattogram, Sylhet routes

Local residents have blocked railway tracks and roads in Brahmanbaria, disrupting train services on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet routes, demanding the division of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila to form a new upazila and the restoration of six villages to Basudeb Union.

The protesters, wearing shrouds around their heads, launched the blockade on Sunday (November 8), bringing train services on the two major routes to a halt.

Since morning, demonstrators have been occupying the railway tracks near Kodda Cabin in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila, as well as the Akhaura Land Port Road. The blockade has disrupted movement on both important routes, leaving several trains, including the Parabat Express, Paryatak Express, Mahanagar Express and Subarna Express, facing uncertainty over their operations.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, the duty station master at Brahmanbaria Railway Station, confirmed the blockade. He said the Sylhet-bound intercity Parabat Express was stranded at the station. The Cox's Bazar-bound non-stop intercity Paryatak Express would also be stopped in Brahmanbaria for security reasons.

Local residents said six villages in Basudeb Union, namely Kodda, Baishnabpur, Shyamnagar, Korabari, Chandi and Barishal, were separated from the union in May this year to form a new union parishad named Barishal. The newly formed union was incorporated into Akhaura upazila. A gazette notification regarding the decision was published on June 4 this year.

Residents have been protesting since April against the move to split Basudeb Union, which is around 150 years old. Their protests included human chains, sit-in programmes and the submission of a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

At a public hearing held at Barishal Eidgah ground on April 22, some residents of the six villages said joining Akhaura would make travel, business, education and healthcare more convenient. However, a large section of Basudeb Union residents have opposed the decision from the outset, and the dispute remains unresolved.

Meanwhile, a new proposal has recently emerged to merge three unions of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila, Basudeb, Sultanpur and Ramrail, with Barishal Union, which is now part of Akhaura, to form a separate upazila named Barishal.

Local residents allege that district BNP leader Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan is behind the proposal. They said the Local Government Division recently sent an official letter seeking a feasibility assessment based on his application. News of the proposal triggered widespread anger among residents.

Khairul Alam, officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Sadar Police Station, said police went to the scene after receiving reports of the blockade. He added that police were maintaining security there to prevent damage to lives and property.