DHAKA: Railway Minister M Mujibul Haque on Sunday categorically said over 8,000 Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) members would be deployed to protect the railway from sabotage.

Currently, 4,000 members of Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are serving for the protection of the railway.

The minister came up with the disclosure while talking to reporters in the railway ministry in city on Sunday.

He said a total of 334 trains have been plying across the country. No train remained stopped due to the blockade.

Replying to the queries about the train schedule mismanagement, the minister said in an emergency situation active train communication is more important than the scheduled.

However, the decision on the numbers of law enforcers and the places of deployment has not taken yet, he added.

While querying about the time of deployment, he said this decision will come from the high command.

VDP director general Major General Nazim Uddin and Railway Director General M Nazim Uddin, among others, accompanied the minister.

BDST: 1744 HRS, JAN 11, 2015