Early Wednesday morning, the three teenagers were killed by a train at an unprotected rail crossing in Madhabpur, Burichang Upazila. According to locals, two of the victims were still alive after the accident but died without receiving medical attention.
Sohel Molla, in-charge of the Cumilla Railway Police Outpost, confirmed the incident. He said, “It’s unclear which train hit them, but police arrived at the scene and recovered the bodies.”
Sources from the railway and local community said multiple trains passed along this route between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM. Rasulpur Station Master Prosenjit Chakraborty stated that railway staff rushed to the scene as soon as they learned of the incident.
Fatalities Rising at Illegal Rail Crossings
The number of unprotected and illegal rail crossings in Cumilla continues to grow. Railway sources reveal that there are now more illegal than legal crossings in the district. Over the past five years, at least 50 people have died in 18 accidents at such unprotected crossings.
Among the three major railway routes—Dhaka–Chattogram, Laksam–Noakhali, and Laksam–Chandpur—the Dhaka–Chattogram line sees the highest number of accidents.
Liaquat Ali Majumdar, Senior Assistant Engineer of Railways, reported:
On the Laksam–Akhaura line: 33 legal crossings, 38 illegal
On the Laksam–Chandpur line: 23 legal, 34 illegal
On the Laksam–Noakhali route: 22 legal, 42 illegal
He added that the number of illegal crossings is also high toward Feni.
Laws Exist, but Enforcement is Lacking
Mohammad Emran Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of the Laksam Railway Police Station, said, “Section 144 is always in effect on railway tracks. Yet, due to public unawareness and disregard for rules, lives are being lost. Vehicles also violate the rules and cause accidents.”
An official at Laksam Junction, speaking on condition of anonymity, added, “With the Dhaka–Chattogram line now upgraded to a double line, train speeds have increased. Most accidents occur at illegal crossings with no gates.”
Railway Mismanagement and Lack of Coordination Eastern Railway Division Manager A. B. M. Kamruzzaman said, “These illegal crossings have been constructed without the approval of local administration or the roads department. Roads should not be built across railway tracks without permission from the railway authority. Installing gates requires manpower and budget—it cannot be done overnight.”
Cumilla District Commissioner Md. Amirul Kaisar said, “Where there are rail crossings, it is the railway’s responsibility to construct gates. And when roads are built, the concerned departments must obtain proper approval from the railway. Only then can we prevent such unnecessary loss of life.”
The rising death toll and crumbling railway system point to a grim reality. Unless these illegal rail crossings are shut down, the fear remains—how many more lives will be lost in these death traps?
Now the question arises—how many deaths will it take to wake the authorities?
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