Bangladesh is currently facing an unusual spike in train derailments, raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the country's railway system. Over just 24 hours—on Saturday and the day before—five passenger and freight trains derailed on different routes across the country.
Officials believe the ongoing severe heat wave is a likely contributor. The intense heat may be causing the railway tracks to expand or develop structural issues, making it harder for trains to run safely. As a precaution, the railway administration has issued instructions to operate all trains with extra care until official investigation reports are submitted.
The Jahanabad Express in Faridpur, a container train at Brahmanbaria station, and the Cox's Bazar Express derailed on Saturday (May 10). The incident led to schedule disruptions on various routes and the cancellation of several trains. In addition, several trains failed to reach their destinations on time. The Railway Transport Department has said that it may take several days for train services to return to normal in the event of multiple train derailments in a single day. The question is whether the accident occurred due to the bending of the railway track due to intense heat or a defect in the railway track. Many believe that the use of low-quality materials in constructing the railway line, faulty and irresponsible renovation work, and a lack of proper supervision are also responsible for the accident. However, two committees have been formed in both the railway zones to investigate the derailment.
Over the weekend, a series of unfortunate incidents unfolded. A Khulna-bound passenger train derailed at Bamon Kanda station in Bhanga, Faridpur. Around the same time, a freight train from Chattogram went off track near a level crossing by Brahmanbaria Station. On the same day, around 11 pm, a freight-carrying commuter train from Chattogram derailed near the Pairtala level crossing at Brahmanbaria Railway Station. After the train was rescued at night, the Cox's Bazar Expressway train leaving Dhaka for Cox's Bazar derailed at the same place in the morning. On Saturday, an oil-carrying train derailed at Sreemangal station in Moulvibazar. On the same day, around 2:30 pm, two freight-carrying container trains derailed at the Akhaura Railway Junction Yard in Brahmanbaria.
Following the derailment of the Jahanabad Express, a three-member investigation committee has been formed. Additionally, the railway authorities have temporarily suspended pointsman Nazrul Islam. A similar investigation committee has also been set up for the other train derailments.
Railway officials have stated that several trains derailed across the country within a few hours. The Jahanabad Express and Cox's Bazar Express are brand new trains running on the country's best railway tracks. However, the recent heatwave has caused defects in the tracks, leading to these trains going off course. While meter-gauge trains in the country usually run at speeds of 70–75 kilometers per hour, broad-gauge trains travel above 80 kilometers per hour. This generates a lot of heat on the tracks, and the ongoing extreme temperatures may contribute to more track defects.
Although the heat intensity has increased nationwide, it hasn't yet reached record-breaking temperatures. If train derailments are already happening at the current temperatures, there's concern that the risk to the tracks will increase further as temperatures continue to rise. Given the situation, it's crucial to investigate the recent incidents and identify the causes thoroughly. Additionally, it's important to find out why a container train and two fuel tankers derailed and take appropriate measures to prevent further accidents.
Several factors need to be investigated regarding the recent train derailments. These include the lack of track maintenance, whether the tamping (compacting of the track ballast) was done properly, the presence of clip fasteners on the sleepers, the condition of the wheel axles, whether there was any overloading or speeding, any negligence in responsibility, or if the heat caused the tracks to warp. All these possibilities need to be thoroughly investigated.
In many cases, responsibility for accidents is shifted onto lower-level employees, while the true causes are overlooked. Often, the recommendations in investigation reports are not implemented. After an accident, one department often blames another, hiding the actual cause. If this blame-shifting continues and the true reasons for train accidents aren't addressed, the risk of a major disaster on the railway increases.
Several railway officials told Bonik Barta that most derailed trains were freight trains. It's necessary to check whether these accidents are being caused by excessive loading. The recent series of accidents within a few hours has raised many questions and cannot be taken lightly. These incidents are causing schedule disruptions, fuel wastage, passenger inconvenience, and financial losses.
When asked about the overall situation, Mohammad Sabuktagin, Railway East's general manager, told Bonik Barta, "Several trains have derailed in a row. Most of them were freight trains, so there were no casualties. Although the country is experiencing a heatwave, we still can't determine the exact cause of the derailments. A committee has been formed to investigate, and measures will be taken to prevent future accidents. However, we've instructed caution in train operations due to the sudden series of accidents."