Protesters block Dhaka-Mymensingh rail line demanding permanent stop for Jamuna Express

Train services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route were disrupted for about an hour on Wednesday (August 12) after residents of Gafargaon blocked a railway line demanding a permanent stop for the intercity Jamuna Express at Moshakhali station.

The protesters took position on the tracks at Moshakhali Railway Station in the morning, stopping the Jamuna Express travelling from Jamalpur to Dhaka. They also placed a red cloth across the tracks as a warning signal.

The train reached the Moshakhali area at around 7:20am and remained stranded for nearly an hour, disrupting rail services along the route and leaving passengers in distress.

Residents said they have been campaigning for the past 10 to 12 days for a permanent stop for the Jamuna Express at Moshakhali. After several previous programmes failed to produce a concrete response from the authorities, they resorted to blocking the railway line.

The protesters said Moshakhali station is a vital transport link for residents of the newly formed South Gafargaon upazila. A regular intercity stop, they said, would provide easier access to Dhaka and other parts of the country.

They vowed to continue their movement until the demand is met.

Railway police were deployed to the area following the disruption. Mymensingh Railway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aktar Hossain said police were negotiating with the protesters and working to clear the tracks and restore normal train services.