United News of Bangladesh

Passengers on the ‘Banalata Express’ on the Dhaka-Mymensingh rail route avoided a big disaster as the railway authorities displayed a red flag in time after part of a track was found bent down at Dhirasram Choto Deura in Gazipur district. Local people said they noticed that a10-feet long rail track on Dhaka-Mymensingh route was bent down around 2:15 pm. At one stage, they informed the matter to the local Railway officials. In the meantime, a Rajshahi-bound ‘Banalata Express’ train was heading towards Joydebpur via Tongi. Crack on Dhaka-Rajshahi rail tracks fixed after 5 hrs  When the train reached Dhirasram Choto Deura, the railway authorities displayed a red flag, forcing the train locomotive master to stop it 100 meters away from the spot. Twelve hundred passengers on the train escaped the accident following the prompt response of the railway authorities. Driver of ‘Banalata Express’ train Md Mokhlesur Rahman said he managed to stop the train after noticing the red flag in time. He also suspected that the rail tracks might have bent down due to the removal of the nut-bolt of the rail tracks. However, the actual reason behind the incident would be known after investigation. Station Master of Joydebpur Railway Junction, Hanif Ali, said the authorities concerned suspended one-way rail movement after the incident. However, the other line is operational.

Police recovered the body of a teenage girl from a rail track in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia on Saturday night, police said. The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately. Locals informed police after finding the body lying on the CMB rail gate area of Kumarkhali on the Kushtia-Rajbari railway line, Md Mohsin Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, said. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Read more: Woman dies after being hit by train in Dhaka As the accident occurred on the railway line, legal action will be taken by the railway police, added the OC. Ashiq, a resident of the local area, said “We suspect the teen was run over by the Rajbari-bound Tungipara Express train as it left Kushtia just before the body was found." Read more: 50-yr-old woman crushed by train in Rajshahi

Train movement between Dhaka and other parts of the country remained suspended for three and half an hour on Wednesday as some admission seekers put up barricade on rail tracks at Airport Rail Station demanding tickets to go to Rajshahi for admission test. Sardar Shahadat Ali, additional director general (operation) of Bangladesh Railway said a group of admission seekers took position on rail tracks at Airport station around 9:30 am as they failed to get tickets to go to Rajshahi to appear for the university admission test. Read: Lone rail protestor forced to call off program at Kamalapur Rajshahi-bound ‘Nilsagar Express’ train and other trains at different stations remained stranded due to the protests, causing immense sufferings to the commuters. The protesters also said the railway authorities told them that all the tickets of the Rajshahi-bound train were sold. The train communication was restored around 12:30 pm after the authorities concerned assured of taking steps to facilitate their travel to Rajshahi.

Police recovered the body of a day-labourer from rail tracks in Lalmai upazila on Friday, 15 days after he went missing.