United News of Bangladesh

Nationwide train movement halted since early Tuesday after Bangladesh Railway's running staff launched an indefinite strike to demand special post-retirement benefits. The strike began at midnight Monday after talks between railway authorities and the union of train drivers and support staff collapsed. As a result, trains scheduled to depart after midnight from originating stations were cancelled, bringing train operations across the country to a standstill. Bent rail tracks: ‘Banalata Express’ avoids accident The strike stems from the staff's demands for several unresolved issues, including the inclusion of running allowances in their basic pay for pension calculations. Running staff, such as train drivers, guards, and ticket checkers, are participating in this protest. Saeedur Rahman, general secretary of the Dhaka Division Committee of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Association, said, “We have not received any decisions from railway authorities. We remain steadfast in our decision to halt train operations.” Passengers have faced significant inconvenience as trains scheduled to depart after midnight failed to leave their stations. The running staff confirmed that trains scheduled to leave their originating stations after midnight were halted. As per regulations, a running staff member is entitled to 12 hours of rest upon returning to their headquarters or 8 hours if stationed outside. If required to work during rest hours for the benefit of railway operations, additional compensation known as mileage benefits is provided. However, due to objections from the Ministry of Finance, the running staff has reportedly been deprived of this benefit, which is one of the key points of contention. Karwan Bazar Railway: The go-to place for illegal drugs in Dhaka Mohammad Anwar Hossain, the station master of Kamalapur Railway Station, told UNB that all trains scheduled to depart until 12:00 am on Monday eventually left their origin station, despite delays. However, trains scheduled to depart after midnight did not operate due to the work stoppage. The last scheduled train on Monday departed from Kamalapur Station at 1:00 am. Passengers with tickets for the cancelled trains, both online and offline, are being refunded.

Train communication between Rajshahi and the rest of the country was restored on Monday morning, four and a half hours after a bogie of the Titumir Express derailed near Sardah Station, disrupting services. Moyen Uddin, the manager of Rajshahi Railway Station, confirmed that train operations resumed around 11 am after the derailed bogie was successfully removed. The derailed Titumir Express continued its journey to Chilahati in Nilphamari after the track was repaired, he said. Read: Derailment in Gazipur halts rail communication with northern Bangladesh The derailment occurred shortly after the Chilahati-bound train left Rajshahi Station at 6:20 am. Mamunul Islam, general manager of the Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway, said that the last of the train's 10 bogies went off the tracks near Sardah Station after crossing the Belpukur area. The disruption caused delays to three trains.

At least 17 people were killed and scores injured on Monday when a cargo train rammed into two bogies of a passenger train at Bhairab Rail Station in Kishoreganj district on Monday, police and officials said. The accident occurred at 3:50 pm when the cargo train hit from behind the Dhaka-bound Egarosindhur Godhuli Express which was coming from Kishoreganj. The passenger train was standing on the outer tracks on its way to the capital city from the port city of Chottogram. Two rear bogies of the passenger train were smashed with many travellers stuck inside. Rescuers from police, fire service and Rab pulled out many bodies from inside the wreckage of the two badly mangled compartments. Read: Man killed as his bike hits bridge in Jashore Seventeen bodies have so far been recovered, said Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence. The death toll is likely to rise as many are still trapped inside the mangled coaches of the passenger train, rescuers said. The coaches overturned due to the impact of the crash. Details on how the accident occurred were not immediately available. Read: Woman’s slit-throat body recovered in Chuadanga The train communication of Kishoreganj with other parts of the country remained suspended following the accident. Four firefighting units rushed to the spot and are conducting the rescue operation, Shahjahan told UNB.  The deceased could not be immediately identified.  

Train movement in Kurigram has been suspended since Friday night as a part of a railway bridge was damaged at Singerdabri in Rajarhat upazila. Md Samsuzzoha, Kurigram Railway Station Master, said a part of a railway bridge was damaged at Singerdabri area due to incessant rainfall on Friday, halting the train communication. The railway authorities have continued train movement with the rest of the country through the northern parts of the district through an alternative route. Nat’l Committee demands reduction of Dhaka-Bhanga train fare by 40% The Dhaka-bound ‘Kurigram Express’ and ‘Rangpur Express’ are moving from Kaunia Rail Station, he said. Train movement from Chilmari Rail Station will resume within 2-3 days, he added. Train collides with stranded truck at railway crossing; one killed

Train communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country remained suspended again since Sunday morning as the removal of two bogies and engine of a train began at Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district. Kabir Ahmad, a master of Bhanughat railway station, said the train movement from Moulvibazar to other parts of the country remained suspended since 9 am after the removal works started early in the morning. Md Anisuzzaman, deputy engineer of Kulaura railway junction, said the removal of the derailed bogies and engine will be completed soon, and train operations will resume. The engine and two bogies of Sylhet-bound ‘Udayan Express’ train from Chattogram veered off the tracks after hitting a tree that fell on the tracks due to storm while passing the Lawachara National Park around 5 am on Saturday, halting train movement. Also read: Train services resume on Sylhet route after 15 hours Rail connectivity between Sylhet and the rest of the country returned to normal around 7:30 pm after removal of the bogies and the engine from the tracks on Saturday, after a nearly 15-hour suspension. But those were not removed from the forest area on Saturday. Meanwhile, the railway department formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident. The committee, led by Divisional Railway Manager (Dhaka) Shafiqul Islam, already visited the spot on Saturday afternoon.  

Train communication on Dhaka-Mymensingh route resumed two hours after an engine of a Dhaka-bound commuter train from Jamalpur went out of order in Sripur upazila of Gazipur on Saturday. Shamima Jahan, station master of Sripur Railway Station, said the locomotive of Dhaka-bound train from Jamalpur went out of order in between Satkhamair and Kaoraid stations in Maijpara area after it left for Sripur from the Kaoraid station around 10am. Read more: Train communication with Sylhet resumes after 4 hours The train communication resumed around 1pm after a new engine was attached to the commuter train, she said.

Rail communication between Natore and Dhaka resumed Sunday evening after a stoppage of more than two hours, due to the derailment of a train at Abdulpur Junction in the northern district.The Dhaka-bound Padma Express train from Rajshahi veered off the tracks at Abdulpur Junction Station around 4:45pm, according to Nizam Uddin, the station master. Read: Unexploded mortar shells found near Bangladesh-Myanmar borderMeanwhile, train movement through alternative lines remained normal, he added.A relief train from Ishwardi went to the scene to salvage the derailed train and after over 2 hours' efforts, the rail communication resumed around 7 pm, the official added.There was no report of any casualty in the accident.  

Train communication between Sylhet and other parts of the country was restored after 23 hours of suspension on Sunday after a freight train derailed at Satgaon Railway Station in Sreemangal upazila of Sylhet.

Train communication between Khulna and other parts of the country were restored after ten hours of suspension on Tuesday after a collision between two freight trains at Safdarpur Rail Station in Kotchandpur upazila of Jhenaidah.

Sylhet’s rail communication with Dhaka and Chattogram was restored after a nearly three-hour disruption following derailment of a cargo train near Maizgaon Railway Station in Fenchuganj on Tuesday.