Bangladesh Railway (BR) resumed intercity train services across the country on Thursday, bringing back relief among the train passengers. Rail communication had remained suspended since July 18 amid the political unrest over the student quota reform movement.
The railway lines in different parts of the country have been damaged by miscreants during the recent violence over the quota protest. The miscreants targeted the trains and railway tracks at different places across the country for attacks during the students’ quota protest.
As the services of mail, local and commuter trains are going on all sorts of necessary, the authorities must take immedate measures to ensure security of the passengers. The number of passengers of intercity trains on various routes has increased in the last couple of years.
Vested interest groups are still hatching conspiracies to carry out acts of sabotage to destroy public property. We express deep concern about the frequent acts of sabotage like setting fire to trains during the recent mayhem.
The number of passengers of intercity trains on
various routes has increased
in the last couple of years
Earlier, hoodlums set fire to several trains, killing many people while the bogies of the trains were completely damaged. Intelligence surveillance must be strengthened by deploying plainclothes police at different points of the railway tracks and railway stations.
Besides, frequent train derailments in the past few years have fueled concerns over the railroad safety. The authorities concerned should repair and also modernise the railway tracks to make the train services safer and hassle-free.
The fatal accidents at level-crossings is a common phenomenon. Therefore, the authorities concerned must deploy gatemen at all level-crossings across the country to ensure safety of pedestrians. Lack of awareness and poor maintenance and monitoring at level-crossings and railway bridges causes accidents, claiming many lives.
Dilapidated railway tracks, faulty interlocking and signaling system causes frequent train derailment and even deadly accidents.
The railway authorities must repair and maintain railway tracks so that trains can run smoothly and safely. In this regard, proper training have to be provided to the railway staff to prevent train accidents.
