Ensuring safe train travel -

To travel from one place to another, trains are often considered one of the safest transportations across the world. But frequent accidents, snatching and stone-pelting have made train travel unsafe and dangerous in Bangladesh. The recent arson attack on the Mohanganj Express near the Tejgaon railway station in Dhaka had left four passengers, who included a mother and her minor son, dead. It is not only a shameful incident but also an alarming one, which might discourage passengers from travelling by train. We want a credible investigation into this arson attack and hold the attackers to justice.

This is not the first incident of attacking a train. Occurrences of robbery, stone-pelting and arson often take place on trains. However, there is little action taken by the railways authorities to stop them. If passengers do not feel secure while using this public transport, where can they find safety? Passenger safety leaves no room for excuses. Security must be strengthened in locations, where incidents of robbery and stone-pelting are frequent. If needed, areas plagued with such criminal acrivities should be monitored ny CCTV cameras.

Ashikujaman Syed, Research Assistant,

Bioinformatics Research Lab,

Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID).

[email protected]