Dhaka's rail links with N-districts, Khulna restored after 11 hours

GAZIPUR, May 28 (Agencies): Railway services between Dhaka and north-western parts of Bangladesh resumed on Saturday morning, after remaining suspended for nearly 11 hours due to the derailment of a train in Gazipur on Friday night, officials said.

The derailment of a train in Gazipur has cut off Dhaka's rail links with the northern districts and Khulna in the southwest.

Md Shahidul Islam, in-charge of Joydebpur Railway Station police camp, said, "The engine and two compartments of Dhaka-bound Panchagarh Express went off the tracks while crossing Mouchak station in Kaliakoir at 9:35pm on Friday". Shahidul said, "Police were ensuring the comfort and security of the stranded passengers".

Rezaul Islam, in-charge of Joydebpur Railway Junction, said, "Kurigram-bound Kurigram Express and Dhaka-bound Jamalpur Express trains were stranded at Mirzapur station after the accident".

"A rescue team has been called from Dhaka", he said.

"The team with a rescue train had already started for the accident site", said Kamalapur Railway Station chief Md Mazharul Haque.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

"However, the derailment had snapped rail link between Dhaka and Rajshahi and north-western parts of the country. A relief train from Dhaka was sent to the spot," a senior railway official said.

Two trains -- Kurigram-bound Kurigram Express and Dhaka-bound Jamalpur Express -- were stranded at Joydebpur and Mirzapur rail stations, respectively, following the derailment.

UNB reports from Chattogram, vehicular movement on Kalurghat Bridge resumed in the early hours of Saturday, after remaining suspended for nearly five hours due to the derailment of an oil tanker of a freight train.

Ahsan Jabir, additional chief engineer (bridge) of Railway East Zone, said that the tanker veered off the railway track on the Chattogram-Dohazari route while returning to the port city from Cox's Bazar Dohazari Pinki Power Plant around 8.30pm on Friday.

The derailment disrupted road and rail communication on the busy bridge. Later, a railroad crane from Pahartoli rushed to the spot and removed the tanker at 1.30am. A number of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the bridge shortly after the accident, the official said.