Four carriages, including the engine, of the Chattogram-to-Dhaka Karnaphuli Commuter train derailed on Wednesday, prompting an order to temporarily suspend the assistant sub-engineer concerned over alleged negligence of duty.
The accident occurred around 12:30pm at kilometre point 122/7–8 on the Nangalkot–Laksam railway section. No passengers were killed or injured.
According to a press release issued by Bangladesh Railway’s Public Relations Department, repair work was under way at the accident site after a section of railway track had been removed without informing the control room.
Neither the station master nor the train driver was aware of the ongoing repairs. As a result, when the train approached the site at normal speed, the driver was unable to prevent the derailment despite applying the emergency brakes.
The accident brought train services on the up line to a halt, while operations on the down line remained normal.
Following the accident, a rescue train from Chattogram arrived at the scene and began recovery operations. Bangladesh Railway expects the recovery work to be completed by 9pm on Wednesday.
A four-member investigation committee has been formed at the divisional level to investigate the incident.
Railway authorities initially suspect that a lack of coordination during track repairs caused the derailment. An order has been issued to temporarily suspend the assistant sub-engineer concerned over alleged negligence of duty.
Bangladesh Railway has expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to passengers.
