Railway officials and employees were compelled to hold back from their duties as the sweepers spread human excreta all over the station including the stationmaster's office, booking office, ticket-counter and platform.

The sweepers, however, cleaned up the mess after railway authorities and police assured them of freeing Laxman Chandra Das. The rail traffic resumed at about 1:00pm.

Noakhali-bound Upakul from Dhaka and Sylhet-bound Paharika from Chittagong could not reach the station in time due to the demonstration.

"We will go on a strike from tomorrow if Laxman was not released today," sweeper-leader Naresh told reporters.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during a clash with smugglers nabbed Laxman and passenger Harun-ur-Rashid on December 26 last year. The smugglers were transporting phensidyl and liquor on a Chittagong-bound train, police and railway sources said.