Bangladesh
Benapole Express BNP leader among 8 arrested in connection with Benapole Express fire
Dhaka, Jan 6: Eight people, including BNP's Dhaka South unit joint convener Nabiullah Nabi and five Jubo Dal activists, have been arrested in connection with the arson attack on the Benapole Express in Dhaka's Gopibagh area on Friday.
Harun Or Rashid, chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)'s Detective Branch (DB) and Additional Commissioner of DMP shared this information in a press briefing organized at DMP Media Centre on Saturday (January 6).
He said, "Nabiullah and five others were directly involved in the fire incident in the train."
"Around 10-11 BNP leaders joined a video conference before the fire, where they all planned to carry out the attack," the DB chief added.
At least four people, including two children, were killed in the incident of fire in 'Benapole Express' at Gopibagh in the capital on Friday (January 5). Five coaches of the intercity train were gutted in the fire.
The train was coming to Dhaka with passengers from Benapole in Jessore. Shortly before reaching Kamalapur railway station, the train caught fire around 9 pm.
General Manager (GM) of Western Railway Asim Kumar Talukder said that Benapole to Dhaka bound Benapole Express (715) will remain suspended till next Sunday (January 7). This inter-city train will resume services from Monday (January 8).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in Benapole Express fire in Dhaka's Gopibagh. She directed the concerned authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Kh. Maheed Uddin said, "The train was set on fire in a planned manner. It is sabotage, that is clear."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has formed a seven-member committee led by Dhaka Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Soumik Shaon Kabir to investigate the Gopibagh train fire incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.
