Despite different initiatives by the authorities, including conducting raids to evacuate the makeshift market and slums from the railway, to make the railway free from accident, the train accident is not being stopped in the country, particularly in Dhaka.
The train accident is occurring one after another. Another accident on level crossing in the city occurred on Thursday within two weeks of such accident in Kawran Bazar level crossing that left four people dead although the yesterday’s accident left two injured. The accident raised fresh concerns among the city dwellers over safety in the level crossings
The Thursday’s accident took place in the Khilgoan level crossing in the morning, as a private car after being hit by a train rammed a motorbike on the level crossing leaving the two injured. One the victims was identified, as Abdul Barek, 42, a businessman. Kamalapur GRP Police Station sub inspector Rafiqul Islam said that the motorcycle carrying Abdul Barek was hit by a private car after a train rammed the car when it was crossing the trail track ignoring the signal, leaving the car driver and a motorcyclist injured. Later, the injured Abdul Barek was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Shajahanpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmudul Alam and Khilgaon Police Station OC Mostafizur Rahman endorsed the incident.
Railway accidents take place mainly at level crossings and Dhaka railway division has over 100 such crossings. Some of the risky level crossings include Khilgaon, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Nakhalparha, Mohakhali, Khilkhet, Kuril Bishwaroad, Kawla, Haji Camp, Airport area and Tongi Bridge.
Four people were killed on September 11 in Karwan Bazar level crossing when they were caught between two trains on parallel tracks, where a fish market is held daily. A day after the tragedic accident, the railway authorities conducted a drive there and evicted illegal shanties and shops along rail tracks.
Many said that the level crossings of the city now have turned into death trap, as at least 238 people have been killed in rail accident in Dhaka alone during the past nine months, according to railway authorities. The accident occurs in the aforementioned crossings often.
The accident of Thursday was the latest accident. Alongside with such accident, frequent train derailments take place across the country causing loss of lives and travel chaos.
According to the data of Bangladesh Railway, at least 392 derailments took place in fiscal 2010-11, 138 in 2011-12 and 100 in 2012-13. Besides, in 2013 several derailments took place due political unrests and violence.
It was alleged that the rail accidents take place often due negligence, lack of maintenance and monitoring by the authorities, as the authorities are not cordial in this regard. They alarmed for sometime only after happening any accident.
The authorities, however, blamed the people’s lack of awareness for the accidents.
Dhaka railway’s divisional manager Qamrul Ahsan blamed lack of public awareness for these accidents. He said they were trying to raise awareness to make sure no one died in rail accidents. Maruf Rahman, a transport expert and official of Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust, blamed negligence of the railway employees for the frequent accidents.
