BSF obstructs railway bridge renovation at Dinajpur border

Renovation work on the railway bridge at the Hili border in Dinajpur has been halted due to obstruction from the Indian Border Security Force, or BSF.

After the incident on the Dharanda railway bridge on Saturday, Lt Col Nahid Newaz, the commander of the Joypurhat-20 BGB Battalion, said discussions are under way with the BSF.

Abdur Rahman, in charge of Hili Railway Engineering Works, said Hili is the country's nearest border region.

A railway line runs along it, originally built during the British era to connect different regions.

Following the displacement of stones, railway authorities initiated repairs on the lower section of the Hili Dharanda bridge along this line.

The railway workers worked there for a few hours until the BSF obstructed them, Abdur said.

Lt Col Nahid said: "The issue was discussed with the BSF at a battalion-level meeting on Jan 30, where they assured us there would be no objections.

“However, the situation changed after the officers of that BSF battalion were transferred. We are now in discussions with them again and hope the work will resume soon."