Train, road traffic resume in Brahmanbaria after five-hour blockade

Train services on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Chattogram routes and road traffic on the Sultanpur-Chinair-Akhaura-Agartala highway resumed on Sunday after residents of six villages in Brahmanbaria lifted a blockade that had disrupted movement for more than five hours.

The protesters withdrew the blockade following discussions with the administration and assurances that their demand would be addressed.

The protesters retreated from the railway and road routes around 11:15am following demonstrations that began at 6am at the Titas Bridge and Kodda Cabin areas in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.

The blockade had halted train services on two major railway routes, leaving several passenger trains stranded on their way to different destinations.

Several trains, including the Parabat, Parjotak Express, Mahanagar, Subarna Express and Upakul Express, faced disruption.

Road traffic, including vehicles carrying passengers and goods to India, also resumed on the Sultanpur-Chinair-Akhaura-Agartala highway after the protesters withdrew.

The residents had been demanding that six villages be returned to Akhaura's Basudeb Union under Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.

According to local residents, the six villages — Kodda, Baishnabpur, Shyamnagar, Korabari, Chandi and Barishal — were separated from Basudeb Union in May this year to form a new union parishad named Barishal.

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The newly formed union was attached to Akhaura upazila, and a gazette notification regarding the decision was published on 4 June.

The protesters announced that they would continue similar demonstrations every day if their demand was not met.

Brahmanbaria District Council Administrator and district BNP General Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said they had held discussions with the protesters, following which they agreed to withdraw the blockade.