Local residents blocked rail and road routes in Brahmanbaria on Sunday, demanding the restoration of six villages to Basudeb Union and protesting a proposed move to divide Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila, disrupting train services on the Dhaka–Chattogram and Dhaka–Sylhet routes.
The protesters, wearing shrouds around their heads, began the blockade in the morning at Kodda Cabin area in Brahmanbaria Sadar, blocking the railway tracks and the Akhaura Land Port road.
The blockade brought train movement on the two major routes to a halt, leaving the operation of several trains, including the Parabat, Parjotak Express, Mahanagar and Subarna Express, uncertain.
Brahmanbaria Railway Station duty master Md Rafiqul Islam confirmed the disruption.
Local residents said six villages of Basudeb Union – Kodda, Baishnabpur, Shyamnagar, Korabari, Chandi and Barishal – were separated from the union in May this year to form a new union parishad named Barishal, which was subsequently brought under Akhaura Upazila. A gazette notification regarding the decision was published on 4 June.
Residents of Basudeb Union have been protesting against the decision from the beginning, but their grievances have not been resolved, they said.
They also alleged that a recent proposal seeks to form a new upazila named Barishal by merging three unions of Brahmanbaria Sadar – Basudeb, Sultanpur and Ramrail – with Barishal Union, which was brought under Akhaura Upazila.
According to local residents, district BNP leader Kabir Ahmed Ahmed Bhuiyan is behind the proposal. Following his application, the Local Government Division recently sent an official letter seeking a feasibility assessment of the proposed upazila.
The proposal came to light recently, triggering anger among residents and prompting Sunday's blockade.
Rafiqul Islam said the Sylhet-bound intercity Parabat Express was stranded at Brahmanbaria Railway Station due to the blockade. The non-stop intercity Parjotak Express, bound for Cox's Bazar, would also remain at the station for security reasons.
Brahmanbaria Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khairul Alam said police arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the blockade. Police personnel were maintaining security to prevent any damage to lives and property, he added.
FP/A
