Train is considered as one of the safest transport in the world. This huge vehicle runs with thousands of passengers. Moreover, as the fare is relatively low compared to other transport, it is also popular among people of all professions.
The first railway in Bangladesh was established in 1862 by the British. Bangladesh did not exist then. On 15 November of the same year, Eastern Bengal Railway, the predecessor of Bangladesh Railway, opened the first railway line extending from Darshana Railway Station to Jagati Railway Station.
Being safe and economical, its popularity gradually increased. The length of railway lines has increased. New districts and upazilas have been brought under the network of railways. Many places have changed from single lines to double lines.
Railways are still the main means of transport for people in neighboring India. There, the development of railways in Bangladesh has repeatedly stalled due to corruption, mismanagement, lack of planning and years of losses. Although the development of railways has been noticed recently, its safety is still neglected.
The biggest railway accident in the history of the country took place on January 15, 1989. 170 passengers were killed when two trains collided head on at Mazukhan near Tongi. Another 400 people were injured. On February 2 of the same year, a train derailed near Chattogram, killing 13 people and injuring 200.
In addition, on March 22, 1983, 60 people were killed when a few spans broke while crossing the bridge near Ishwardi, 27 people died in a fire in the coach of Simanta Express bound for Parbatipur from Khulna on January 13, 1985, 25 people fell into the river when the train derailed near Bheramara on March 15, 1986 due to vandalism by the Sarbahara party. On January 13, a local train from Goalundo to Parbatipur, standing at Hili station, was hit by the Simanta express from Syedpur to Khulna. More than 50 passengers of two trains lost their lives in the head-on collision. Innocent passengers lose their lives every year in train accidents.
On August 5, 2023, the Shipping and Communication Reporters' Forum (SCRF) identified nine causes of accidents through monitoring and discussions with experts on rail transport systems and accidents.
The reasons are:
Indifference of the authorities, defects in signaling system, dangerous level crossings, addition of extra coaches to the engine capacity, shortage of stones in the railway line, dangerous railway bridges, lack of modern technology, shortage of manpower and shaky track as well as use of various materials including low quality sleepers and fishplates in the railway line.
Recently two new factors have been added to this. Train accident due to bending of railway line and breaking of equalizer beam in summer.
On March 4 of this year, at least 15 feet of railway line was seen bending near Azampur station of Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria on Sylhet-Dhaka railway. If the railway line bends in the relatively mild heat of March, it is a matter of consideration how safe the train journey will be in the scorching heat of April and May.
On Wednesday (April 17), the derailment occurred due to the breakage of the equalizer beam of the Dhaka-bound Jamuna Express train which left Tarakandi in Jamalpur, according to railway rescue workers. If this is correct the question remains as to the competence of those involved in its maintenance. Otherwise their extreme indifference is noticeable.
The intense heat wave is sweeping over various parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, which may continue for a few more days. As a result, the risk is increasing in trains, which are known as the safest means of transportation. Fatal accidents can occur due to overheating of railway tracks.
Mehdi Hasan Tarek, Assistant Executive Engineer of Akhaura Section, said that the temperature of 45 to 46 degrees Celsius is tolerable on the railway line. If somehow the temperature of the track rises to 48 to 50 degrees Celsius, then passenger trains have to run at a maximum speed of 40 kmph and freight trains at a maximum speed of 30 kmph. Otherwise, due to excessive heat, the railway line may bend somewhere and cause a fatal accident. In that case, if the temperature of the railway line is regularly monitored and measures are not taken, the possibility of a major accident cannot be ruled out at any time.