Rail communications between Dhaka and the north-western region remained suspended for about three hours on Friday morning after two trains collided head-on in Gazipur, injuring at least four people, including the drivers of the trains.
The accident derailed four compartments of a passenger train and six wagons of an oil tanker that could not be salvaged for 11 hours after the accident.
The accident occurred after a commuter train collided head-on with a standing oil tanker in the Kazibari area near Joydebpur station in Gazipur at about 11:00am.
Three employees of Bangladesh Railway, including a stationmaster, were suspended over the incident.
The suspended people are Md Abul Hashem, the stationmaster of Abgomti station, and pointsmen Saddam Hossain and Mostafizur Rahman.
The injured are identified as Md Delowar Hossain, locomaster of the oil tanker,聽 Ripon Chandra, assistant locomaster, Habibur Rahman Khan, locomaster of the Tangail commuter train, and Sabuj Hasan, commuter鈥檚 assistant locomaster.
Joydebpur Railway Station鈥檚 stationmaster, Abu Hanif, said that the injured people were admitted to Gazipur Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital.
Bangladesh Railway and Gazipur district administration formed two separate probe committees following the incident.
Gazipur鈥檚 deputy commissioner, Md Shafikul Islam, said that a three-member committee was asked to submit the probe report within two working days.
On behalf of the railways, a five-member investigation committee, headed by Soumik Shaon Kabir, Dhaka divisional engineer (Signal and Telecommunication) of the railways, was formed.
The committee was instructed to submit the report within three working days, said Md Shafikur Rahman, Dhaka division railway manager.
鈥楾he accident might have occurred due to human failure or technical problems. But the exact reason can be confirmed only after investigation,鈥� added Shafik.
Joydebpur Railway Station鈥檚 stationmaster, Abu Hanif, said that the Tangail commuter train, which left from Tangail, was heading for Dhaka after stopping at Joydebpur station at 10:50am.
After it reached the outer signal, the train collided head-on with the oil tanker train coming from the opposite direction.
Following the accident, train services on the route remained suspended.
The train service resumed at 1:30pm on an alternative line.
However, the rescue teams were working to salvage the train until evening.
Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh have been deployed to assist in the rescue, United News of Bangladesh reported, quoting a BGB press release.
The paramilitary members, led by the BGB-63 commander, would remain deployed to maintain law and order and assist in the rescue operation, according to the press release.