Four dead as Benapole Express train 'set on fire' in Gopibagh

At least four passengers were killed after the Benapole Express train was "set on fire" in the Gopibagh area of Sayedabad on Friday night.

A young man died while trying to evacuate the passengers of the fire-hit train, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Wari Division Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Iqbal Hossain.

Photo: Zia Chowdhury

The train was en route to Dhaka, carrying passengers from Benapole. Shortly before reaching Kamalapur railway station, the fire broke out in front of the Gopibagh kitchen market around 9pm.

'We saw him burn to death, but could do nothing'

Eight, including two children, currently undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery, Dr Tarikul Islam, resident surgeon at the institute, said.

"The train might have been set on fire right after it crossed Saydabad station," said Mohammad Iqbal Hossain.

"We initially suspected a fire from households due to the congested area. However, we later discovered that the fire originated from a train. We suspect there may be more individuals inside the train. Now, we will enter and conduct a search and rescue operation," he added.

At least four passengers were killed after the Benapole Express train was set on fire in the Gopibagh area of Sayedabad on 5 January. Photo: Zia Chowdhury

Eight firefighting units were working on the spot and the fire was brought under control at 10:22pm, Talha Bin Zasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense, told The Business Standard.

"As the train was approaching Kamalapur station, we suddenly detected the smell of smoke. We promptly turned off the air conditioner and disembarked the train," said the train's air conditioning (AC) operator Sayem.

"As the rail track is far from the main roads and it was difficult to reach the spot promptly, the fire raged fast and almost engulfed the entire train," Iqbal Hossain said.

Local resident Shadin said, "We were at a slight distance from the spot. After noticing the fire, my friends and I went there and rescued some people. The heat felt as though I was close to the inferno." 

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"Later, I saw someone was trying to come out through the window. Suddenly the window fell down and the man got stuck. Glass broke and later the man turned to charcoal just in front of us. We couldn't do anything," Shadin told TBS.

Another local resident Iman said, "I feel deep sorrow that I couldn't rescue that man hanging from a window. We brought out a bamboo stick to get him out but we couldn't save him. He died in front of our eyes."

The arson took place two days before the national election in the country. 

BNP, Jamaat and their allies have announced programmes including a hartal on the election day in protest to the national polls.

Photo: Zia Chowdhury

Earlier, on 19 December, four people including a child were killed after miscreants set fire to Dhaka-bound Mohanganj Expres in the capital's Tejgaon area. 

With the latest casualties, a total of eight people have died in train fires in the country since 28 October.