Chandpur, Nov 12 (UNB) – Tuesday was the last day for filling up form to take part in the upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination. So, Farzana Rahman was returning from Sreemangal of Moulvibazar on Monday night after attending the marriage ceremony of her maternal cousin.

However, the fatal train collision in Kasba of Brahmabaria district cut short the life of such a meritorious student.

At least 16 passengers were killed and over 100 others injured in a fatal collision between two trains on Dhaka-Chattogram route in Mandbagh Railway Station in Kasba upazila early Tuesday.

Farzana’s mother Bebi Begum, brother Hasan Bepari, maternal grandmother Firoza Begum, cousins Mitu, Ibli and Drubo, aunt Shahida were also wounded in the accident.

Her cousin Ayesha Akhter said Farzana along with her relatives went to Sreemangal on November 5 to attend the wedding ceremony of her maternal cousin. They met the accident on the way back home.

Farzana, daughter of expatriate Bilal Bepari in living in Kuwait, was going to appear at the next SSC examination from Bagadi Goni High School in Sadar upazila.

Her body was handed over to her relatives without postmortem following a request made by the family, said Md Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Chandpur Model Police Station.

Hundreds of people, including her classmates, thronged and burst into tears when her body was taken to their residence in Balia union of Sadar upazila.

“She (Farzana) was a meritorious student and a good friend of us. She was scheduled to sit for the upcoming SSC exam under Science section. She was supposed to fill up the form on today. But it’s the irony of fate that left us forever on the same day,” one of her friends said.

Witnesses and railway sources said Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signalled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signalled to enter line-1.

However, Turna Nishita ignored the signal and continued to run on the main line. It crashed into the middle of Udayan while it was entering the line-1.

Six of the bogies of the Chattogram-bound train were on the main line when the collision took place.

Under the impact of the collision, three compartments of Udayan got completely twisted.
 

Loco master of Turnanishitha train and two other staff of Bangladesh Railway have been suspended after the fatal train crash at Mandbagh of Brahmanbaria that left 16 people dead and over 100 others injured.

Loco master Taser Uddin, assistant loco master Apu Dey and working guard Abdur Rahman were suspended, said Shariful Alam, senior information officer of the  Railways Ministry.

Dhaka-bound Turnanishita from Chattogram collided with Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet around 3am, said Deputy Commissioner Hayat-Ud-Dowllah Khan, who visited the spot right after the crash.

“So far, 16 people have died in the deadly accident, but the figure may go up further,” the DC added.

Bangladesh Railway authorities have formed two separate probe bodies while Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner formed another probe body to investigate the deadly incident.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members arrested a drug trader along with 19,575 Yaba tablets in Bohoddarhat Shahamanat area in the city here on Monday.

The arrestee is Jasim Uddim Siraj, 30, of Chhitpara village in Gazipur.

Tipped off, a team of Rab conducted a drive in front of New Manila Hotel in the area and arrested Jasim when he was crossing the area riding a motorbike, said a press release of Rab-7. 

After searching Jashim they recovered 19,575 Yaba tablets which were concealed in the motorbike, it said. 

The Rab team handed over Jasim to Chandgaon Police Station.

Unidentified miscreants have stolen 19.38 kg gold from Benapole customs house after breaking its vault.

“When the office reopened after Eid-Miladunnabi vacation, the authorities found the vault broken on Monday morning and informed police,” said Belal Hossain Chowdhury, Benapole Customs Commissioner at a press briefing at 10pm on Monday. 

Around 19.38 kg gold was found missing from the volt, he said.

Belal Hossain said five officials, including vault in-charge Sahabul Sardar, were suspended over the incident. 

A five-member probe committee was formed with Joint Customs Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam as its head, he added.

Mamun Khan, officer-in-charge of Benapole Port Police Station, said “Thieves used alternative keys for opening customs house godown.”

Sources of Benapole Customs said DB, CID, PBI, Rab and police officials entered the volt room around 5pm on Monday in presence of Joint Customs Commissioner Shahidul Islam. 

At least 16 passengers were killed and over 100 others injured in a fatal collision between two trains on Dhaka-Chattogram route in Mandbagh Railway Station in Kasba upazila early Tuesday.
 
The deadly collision between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express from Chattogram and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet took place around 3am, said Deputy Commissioner Hayat-Ud-Dowllah Khan, who visited the spot right after the crash.
 
“So far, 16 people have died in the deadly accident, but the figure may go up further,” the DC added.

Fifteen of the deceased were identified Majibur Rahman, 55, son of Abdul Jalil of Hajiganj upazila, Kakoli, 20, wife of Moin Uddin of Haimchar upazila, Kulsum Begum, 30, wife of Mojibur Rahman of Hajiganj upazila, Mariam Begum, 6, daughter of Jahangir of Haimchar upazila, Farzana, 15, daughter of Billal Miaji of Uttar Balia in Chandpur district, Yeasin Arafat, 12, of Bahula, Ripon Mia, 25, son of Azmatullah, Sujon Ahmed, 24, son of Abdul Hashim of Chunarughat upazila, Al Amin, 30, son of Ayub Hossain of Baniachang upazila, Ali Mohammad Yusuf, 32, of Anwarpur, Piyara Begum, wife of Abdus Salam of Chunarughat upazila, Adiba, 2, daughter of Sohel of Borobazar in Habiganj district, Zaheda Khatun, 48, wife of Muslem Mia of Sreemangal upazila in Moulvibazar district, Robi Haridhan, 25, son of Shankar Haridhan of Noakhali district and Sohamoni, 3,daughter of Sohel Rana of Brahmanbaria district.

Witnesses and railway sources said Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signalled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signalled to enter line-1.

However, Turna Nishita ignored the signal and continued to run on the main line. It crashed into the middle of Udayan while it was entering the line-1.

Six of the bogies of the Chattogram-bound train were on the main line when the collision took place.

Under the impact of the collision, three compartments of Udayan got completely twisted.

How it happened?  

Witnesses and railway sources said Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signalled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signalled to enter line-1.

However, Turna Nishita ignored the signal and continued to run on the main line. It crashed into the middle of Udayan while it was entering the line-1.

Six of the bogies of the Chattogram-bound train were on the main line when the collision took place.

Under the impact of the collision, three compartments of Udayan got completely twisted.

Stationmaster of Mandbhagh M Zaker Hossain Chowdhury claimed that the accident took place as Turna Nishita continued to run ignoring the signal.

Rescue operation

Several units of Fire Service from Brahmanbaria Sadar, Akhaura and Kasba rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operation.

Two relief trains also rushed in and cleared the line. 

The DC said the rail communications on the Chattogram-Dhaka and Chattogram-Sylhet routes restored at 10:45am on completion of the salvage operation.

The injured were taken to different hospitals of Brahmanbaria and Cumilla districts.

Minister’s visit to spot

Visiting the spot, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan announced compensation of Tk 1 lakh for the families of each deceased and Tk 10,000 for each injured while the district administration also declared Tk 25,000 for the burial of the deceased each.

Police Super Md Anisur Rahman also visited the spot.

Three suspended

Loco master Taser Uddin, assistant loco master Apu Dey and assistant guard Abdur Rahman of Turna Nishita were suspended over the accident, said Shariful Alam, senior information officer of the Railways Ministry.
 
Five probe bodies formed

Bangladesh Railway authorities formed four probe bodies while the district administration another to look into the deadly incident.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, expressed profound shock at the deaths in the fatal collision.

Both of them extended deep condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the accident and prayed for the eternal peace of the victims.

Prime Minister asked the local administration and public representatives to extend all-out support to the victims of Brahmanbaria train crash.