Railway Tragedy in Gazipur (One Dead in Mohanganj Express Accident)
In Gazipur, a train accident occurred on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway route, causing notable disruptions. The incident involved the derailment of seven coaches of the Mohanganj Express at the Bankharia (Chilai River) bridge early on a Wednesday.
This unfortunate event led to the tragic death of a 35-year-old chicken trader named Aslam from Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh.
The derailment caused extensive damage to the railway line, with 300 feet of track affected, including the train carriage and engine. As a result, 100 railway sleepers became completely unusable and needed replacement.
The Bangladesh Railway, under the direction of Director General Kamrul Ahsan, worked swiftly to repair the damage. By Wednesday evening, 95% of the repair work was completed, and officials hoped to resume train services by midnight.
Investigations revealed that miscreants had uprooted the rail tracks using a cutting torch at some point during the night. This act of vandalism was likely the cause of the derailment.
The Gazipur Fire Service, led by Deputy Director Abdullah Al Arefin, confirmed this information and also recovered a 12-kg gas cylinder from a forest beside the railway tracks, further indicating foul play.
The incident not only caused a temporary halt in train movement on the Dhaka-Mymensingh-Dhaka route but also raised concerns about railway safety and security. The quick response of the railway authorities and the fire service helped in managing the situation and preventing further casualties.
The resumption of train services was a relief to commuters, but the incident left a lasting impact on the safety perception of railway travel in the region.
