Probe launched over suspension of TTE

The government has launched an investigation to probe into the much-talked incident of travelling without tickets on a train and allegations against a travelling ticket examiner (TTE) of Bangladesh Railway of being rude to passengers.

Railway Assistant Transport Officer Sajedul Islam Babu is leading the three-member team formed by the Pakshi Railway Divisional Office. 

Imrul Kayes Pranto, a passenger of Dhaka-bound Sundarban Express and relative of the railways minister, met the probe committee on Sunday. The TTE, Shafiqul Islam, was also summoned to the Pakshi Railway Divisional Office for an explanation of his actions.

The probe body has been tasked with submitting the report within five working days. 

The head of the probe body, Sajedul Islam Babu, told reporters that they had noted down the statements of both the parties and they will listen to the witnesses next.

Shafiqul, who works under Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshi Division, was suspended on Friday, a day after he fined three individuals for travelling in an air-conditioned coach without tickets, claiming that they were relatives of the railways minister.

Angered by the penalty, the three including Pranto complained to the railway authorities in a hand-written letter accusing the TTE of “misbehaving” with them.

The suspension of the TTE, in which the railways minister’s wife reportedly had a role, touched off widespread criticism on social media, with Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) calling on the minister to leave office allowing a fair investigation into the incident.

In a dramatic change of events, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said that the order to suspend the TTE would be withdrawn. The development came amid calls from various quarters for his resignation.