Residents of the area in Gazipur where a fatal train derailment occurred on Wednesday have expressed displeasure with media reports portraying their village negatively, seeking severe punishment for the real culprits behind the incident.
The Dhaka-bound Mohanganj Express derailed in Gazipur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway route early Wednesday, killing one and injuring several others. Officials said the railway line had been snapped with a cutting torch.
On Friday, employees of Bangladesh Railway’s engineering department were repairing the damaged railway line.
Additionally, officers from various departments involved in investigations into the incident visited the site to engage with locals and identify the real culprits.
Trains were operating at a slow speed in the damaged section, causing minor disruptions. The incident is reminiscent of a similar one in 2014, 1.5 kilometres north of the current accident site.
Farmers Abul Hossain and Akhtar Hossain, standing near Bankharia Government Primary School in the morning, expressed frustration with some media reports.
They demanded the authorities identify individuals responsible for the incident and bring them to justice. According to the two farmers, miscreants had attempted to set fire to tires on the railway line during the latest blockade but fled upon police intervention.
Mohir Uddin, a farmer cutting paddy near the accident site, said law enforcement was not harassing them over the incident and affirmed they were staying at home.
Panic and fear gripped the community witnessing the incident, and they acknowledged the potential for greater casualties if the train had gone over Chilai Bridge. The village has had 24-hour police security since the incident.
Saidul Islam, a village resident working in a local tobacco cigarette factory, said everyone in his family is employed and was at work during the incident. He heard about the train derailment after returning home.
Imam Nazmul Alam of Bankharia Jame Masjid said most of the local residents were farmers and labourers and were unlikely to be involved in the incident. Miscreants from another area might have committed the act.
Nasima Akhter, a housewife drying rice at home, mentioned that people from surrounding areas still visit the site. She demanded the identification and strict punishment of those involved through a proper investigation.
Delwar Hossain, a member of the Bangladesh Railway Security Force on duty at the scene, explained the security measures, with an eight-member team on duty 24/7.
Farooq Hossain, in charge of the accident site for the Bangladesh Railway engineering department (Range-3), said a total of 13 people were working day and night to repair the railway line.
Ashraful Alam Khan, senior sub-assistant engineer of Bangladesh Railway, the plaintiff in a case filed over the incident, said passenger Aslam, 35, of Gafargaon upazila, was killed on the spot, while 10 others were injured.
Sub-Inspector Shahidul Islam of Joydebpur railway police outpost, the investigating officer of the case, said no one has been arrested or detained for questioning yet.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mazharul Haque of Bangladesh Railway Police (Dhaka Region) visited the train accident site at noon, emphasizing their commitment to identify those involved, work with law enforcement agencies, and ensure no innocent person becomes a victim of harassment.
