One dead, 5 injured as train derails in Gazipur

Locals suspect sabotage

FE Team | Published: December 13, 2023 23:41:30

GAZIPUR, Dec 13 (UNB): A man was dead and five people were injured as seven bogies of a train derailed at Bankharia near Gazipur Railway Station early today.
The identities of the deceased and injured could not be known immediately.
Hanif Ali, Joydebpur Railway Station Master, said seven bogies of Dhaka-bound 'Mohonganj Express' from Mymensingh veered off the tracks around 4:30 am, leaving one killed and five injured.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and are conducting a rescue operation.
Train communication between Joydebpur and Mymensingh remained suspended following the derailment.
Police are investigating whether it is an accident or an act of sabotage.
Local people claimed that the incident occurred as miscreants cut off the rail tracks as part of sabotage activities during the ongoing 36-hour rail, road, and waterway blockade enforced by BNP and like-minded parties.
Two separate probe committees have been formed to investigate the derailment of Mohonganj Express train near Bhawal Railway Station area of Gazipur that caused one death.
A five-member committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Humayun Kabir, has been formed to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, another seven-member investigation committee headed by Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Soumik Sawan Kabir has been formed on behalf of Bangladesh Railway.
The committee has been asked to submit a report within three working days.
"A 20-foot stretch of rail track was deliberately removed, leading to the derailment of the Dhaka-bound Mohanganj Express," said Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Abul Fateh.
He said those enforcing the blockade, aiming to disrupt vehicle and train movement, might be behind this incident.
Seven coaches of the Dhaka-bound Mohonganj Express derailed near the Bhawal railway station after parts of the rail track were uprooted killing one and injuring seven people.
Train services on the track were halted due to the incident. Later, trains were rerouted from Mymensingh to Dhaka via Kishoreganj to maintain the flow of rail communication.
Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway Md Kamrul Ahsan said the government will provide Tk 100,000 as compensation to the family of the deceased.
Gazipur Superintendent of Police Kazi Shafiqul Islam and Sreepur Upazila Chairman Shamsul Alam visited the spot. Member of the Parliament for Gazipur-3 constituency Iqbal Hossain Sabuj went to the spot at noon.
He went to the spot and urged the law enforcement agencies to bring those involved in the brutal incident under the law quickly.
Major Yasir Arafat Hossain, commander of RAB-1 Gazipur Porabari camp said, "The matter is being thoroughly investigated. Efforts are underway to swiftly apprehend those involved once the matter of sabotage is confirmed and the culprits are identified."