Hasan Ajmal Bhuiyan, a ward councillor in Gazipur, allegedly played a central role in orchestrating the incident involving the cutting and uprooting of the railway line in the Bankharia area of Sreepur, Gazipur, that claimed one life and injured many.

The plan was reportedly formulated during a meeting held at his residence on December 11, a day prior to the incident. 

Approximately 27-28 local BNP activists attended this meeting. Ibn Sina Chowdhury Toha, convener of the Azim Uddin College Branch Chhatra Dal, was assigned the responsibility of uprooting the railway line, and he executed the plan with the assistance of some members from the local Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal.

To implement the plan, Toha hired two welders from Dhaka through Jubo Dal's organizational secretary, Masum. 

The Mohanganj Express, operating on the Mohanganj-Dhaka route, was derailed by sabotage. Seven coaches of the train derailed, resulting in one fatality and 10 severe injuries.

Following the incident, Ashraful Alam Khan, Senior Deputy Assistant Engineer (Track) of Bangladesh Railway, filed a case against unknown assailants at Dhaka Railway Police Station.

Detectives, led by ADC Shahadat Hossain Suma of Gazipur Metropolitan Police's Detective North Division, arrested seven individuals after an investigation into the incident.

The detainees include Gazipur Ward Councilor Hasan Ajmal Bhuiya, Jannatul Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Zulkar Nain Ashrafi alias Hriday, Shahinur Alam, Saidul Islam, and Sohel Rana. 

All those apprehended are reported to be former and current leaders and activists associated with the local BNP at various organizational levels.

During a press conference, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mahbubur Rahman said that Jannatul Islam and Mehedi Hasan were initially arrested.

How the rail line was cut

On the night of December 12, the group, led by Mehedi and Toha, traveled in a microbus across various areas of Gazipur. 

Prior to the incident, two gas cylinders were acquired from “Bansh Bagan” restaurant in the Salna area and transported in a car. 

They also carried oxygen cylinders, and specialized cutting equipment for their grim purpose.  

Shortly after midnight, they reached the Bankharia railway line near the Bankharia Chilai Bridge. 

Jannatul, Mehedi, and Rabbi carried the heavy equipment. Toha and two unidentified welding engineers from Dhaka took charge of the operation.

At 2:40am, the engineers began to cut the track. Jannatul and the others stood guard during this time for any sign of approaching danger. 

Subsequently, the perpetrators finished cutting the railway line between 3am and 4am.

Confession

Following their arrest, the perpetrators confessed to their involvement in the incident during preliminary interrogation. 

A team of eight, led by Masum and Toha, were identified as the individuals who cut the railway line. 

Subsequent raids led to the apprehension of the main planners and financiers of the incident, including Councilor Ajmal Bhuiya, Hridoy, Shahinur, Saidul, and Sohel Rana.

Three of the seven accused individuals arrested in connection with the incident provided a confessional statement in court on Sunday. 

In his court deposition, Shahinur, who is involved in the printing supplies business and associated with BNP politics in Gazipur, revealed that he previously served as the organizing secretary of the local Azimuddin College branch of Chhatra Dal.

Shahinur explained: "To disrupt the image of the government and make the ongoing blockade and hartal activities successful, there was a plan to uproot the railway line on December 11. I was responsible for serving food in that meeting attended by about 27-28 people."

Mehedi Hasan, present at the scene of the sabotage, said in his court testimony: "I used to participate in Chhatra Dal processions and meetings. Toha Bhai informed me that there was work to be done on the night of December 12. Moin and Rabbi came to my house soon after late in the  evening, and then the three of us went to BIDC market, had breakfast in a hotel, and strolled around Chapulia for a while. After we waited there for some time, Toha Bhai, Machum Bhai, Jannatul, and two strangers arrived in a car at around 11pm-12 midnight. They brought gas cylinders, oxygen cylinders, and various equipment in two bags in that car."

Mehedi Hasan continued: "After cutting the line, Toha bhai gave me Tk500 after leaving the car. I initially went to Mirpur and then proceeded to Gazipur from there."

Jannatul Islam, in his confessional statement to the court, said: "Toha bhai called me on December 12 and asked about my whereabouts. I was involved in internet cable connection work. Toha Bhai called me at around 9pm and instructed me to go to Amira Masjid, from in front of which he picked me up and took me to the scene"

What authorities say

Gazipur Metropolitan Detective Police (North) ADC Shahadat Hossain Suman, said efforts are underway to apprehend the two welding engineers hired from Dhaka. 

“These individuals used to work in the welding factory of an associate of the absconding accused Masum,” he added. 

Detectives believe that the two were recruited in exchange for money.