Since 7:15am today (8 November), protesters have blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet railway routes, as well as the Akhaura-Agartala international road, in the Kodda area of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
Protesters blocked the railway routes and Akhaura-Agartala road in Kodda, setting fire to objects as part of the demonstration. Photo: TBS
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Protesters blocked the railway routes and Akhaura-Agartala road in Kodda, setting fire to objects as part of the demonstration. Photo: TBS
Residents of six villages in Brahmanbaria’s Basudeb Union blocked railway tracks and roads in protest against the decision to separate the villages from the union and incorporate them into the newly formed neighbouring Barishal Union.
Since 7:15am today (8 November), protesters have blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet railway routes, as well as the Akhaura-Agartala international road, in the Kodda area of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
The blockade has disrupted rail communication between Dhaka and Chattogram and Dhaka and Sylhet. Road traffic has also come to a standstill, leaving several trucks carrying export goods to India stranded in the area.
According to local sources, a new union parishad named Barishal has been formed with six villages previously under Basudeb Union in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
The proposal for the new union came from Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, a member of the district BNP, whose home village is Barishal. The village was also previously part of Basudeb Union. The newly formed union has been placed under Akhaura upazila.
Residents of Chandi, Kodda, Shyamnagar, Korabari, Baishnabpur and Barishal have been holding various protest programmes against the move to separate the villages from Basudeb Union and form a new union.
A faction of Basudeb Union BNP has been leading the protests. As part of the movement, locals blocked the railway tracks and roads on Sunday morning, halting train and road traffic.
Jahangir Alam Nayan, acting president of Basudeb Union BNP, alleged that Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan was using his brother Abdur Rahman Sani’s influence to push through the move. Sani is an assistant private secretary to the prime minister.
“Barishal is a village on the banks of a marsh. It cannot become a union under any circumstances. His activities are also harming the BNP. The blockade will continue until our demands are met,” he said.
Abdul Quddus, officer-in-charge of Akhaura Railway Police Station, said the authorities concerned had been informed of the blockade and would hold discussions with the protesters before deciding on the next course of action.
Md Rafiqul Islam, station master at Brahmanbaria Railway Station, said the Sylhet-bound intercity Parabat Express was stranded at the station due to the blockade.
The Cox’s Bazar-bound non-stop intercity Tourist Express would also remain at Brahmanbaria as a security precaution, he added.
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