Zakir Azad, Cumilla

To prevent vandalism, Railway East has directed 24-hour continuous vigil over 170 km of Cumilla , Cumilla -Noakhali, Cumilla -Chandpur railway lines till election. Apart from the railway's own departmental officers, police and Ansar members are engaged in this vigil. Senior Assistant Engineer of Railway Cumilla Md. Liaqat Ali Majumder has confirmed that this instruction will continue from December 14 to January 7 elections. He said that this watch will continue day and night. 111 workers of Comilla region of engineering department will perform this duty uninterruptedly in shifts. However, as there is no trolley, the workers have to guard long distances on foot.

The GRP Police, Anasar and Railway Security Force have joined the guard along with the railway workers. Railway Cumilla station outpost in-charge Mustafa Kamal said that the same instructions have been given to the police to avoid vandalism. Along with regular patrolling, the law and order forces will fully cooperate with the railway workers.

The security personnel say that they are doing their duty to keep the railway line safe by ignoring the cold fog and taking risks. Guard work has to be done on foot with only torch and stick.

Chittagong, Cumilla , Chandpur, Noakhali route 38 trains daily. Among them, the number of passenger trains is more. However, there is no option other than this route for the transportation of valuable goods from Chittagong Port to the entire country. So the passengers applauded the decision of the railways to avoid vandalism. Anwarul Haque, a passenger of Godhuli from Cumilla to Dhaka, said that rail is a safe public transport. Elections have become a risk in train travel. The Gazipur accident caused panic. The guarding of the railway workers is commendable.

Banasua, Moulvinagar, Ekhlaspur, Ganipur, Aittabari, Gabua, Kagiya, Peyarapur, court station Chandpur along Gomti banks of Cumilla region have been identified by railways as risk areas.