A passenger bus collided with a train at the Padua Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla, killing 12 people and injuring at least 10. According to preliminary investigation into the accident, which occurred at 2:55 am on Saturday, railway officials found evidence of negligence by the gatekeepers on duty at the crossing. Two gatemen have been temporarily suspended and action is also being taken against the station master.
This is not an isolated incident. Many major railway accidents have occurred due to the negligence of railway employees. Including the Kamila incident, eight major accidents have occurred in the Eastern Zone of Bangladesh Railway in the last eight years, resulting in 67 deaths and at least 218 injuries.
After every accident, Railways forms investigation committees at various levels. In most cases, these investigations hold negligence on the part of locomotive masters (train drivers), assistant locomotive masters, guards and gatemen.
However, experts have questioned these investigations, saying that the Railways shifts responsibility by penalizing lower-level operational staff. They argue that officials responsible for management and oversight should also be held accountable.
For operational convenience, Bangladesh Railways is divided into two zones: Eastern Zone, covering areas east of the Jamuna River (Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Mymensingh Divisions), and Western Zone, covering areas west of the river (Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna Divisions).