Two Gatekeepers Suspended After Comilla Crash

In a tragic incident at Comilla’s Paduar Bazar railway crossing, two gatekeepers, Helal Uddin and Mehedi Hasan, have been suspended following allegations of negligence in duty. Preliminary investigations by railway authorities indicate that lapses on their part contributed to the collision between a passenger bus and a mail train.

The suspensions were enacted early on Sunday morning at 9:00 am, confirmed by Chittagong Divisional Manager Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiya, who told reporters, “Due to negligence in their responsibilities, the two gatekeepers on duty at Paduar Bazar crossing in Comilla Sadar South Upazila have been temporarily suspended. We have also formed two separate investigation committees to determine the exact cause of this tragic incident.”

Incident Background

The Comilla section of the Dhaka–Chittagong railway relies on two gatekeepers who alternate in managing signal operations at Paduar Bazar crossing. According to Bhuiya, the Dhaka Mail train was expected to pass safely after receiving the proper signal from the gatekeepers. However, a communication gap occurred when the responsible gatekeeper failed to provide the signal on time. By the time contact was established, the bus had already entered the crossing, leading to the fatal collision.

Bhuiya emphasised, “The purpose of the dual investigation committees is to uncover both operational and human errors that may have contributed to the crash.”

Investigation Committees

The railway authority has constituted two separate committees to examine the incident. Committee members have been instructed to submit their findings within three working days. Decisions on further disciplinary or remedial actions will be based on these reports.

Railway Operations Disrupted

Following the accident, train operations along the Dhaka–Chittagong route were temporarily halted. A mail train had managed to traverse the down line before the arrival of the rescue train from Akhaura, Brahmanbaria, at approximately 8:15 am. After rescue operations commenced, traffic in both directions was suspended to facilitate safe recovery. By 9:30 am, the bus was removed from the tracks, and operations were expected to resume shortly thereafter.

Timeline of Events

• Saturday, 02:55 am: Collision between Mamun Paribahan passenger bus and Dhaka-bound mail train at Paduar Bazar.
• Sunday, 07:18 am: Mail train departs Comilla Station towards Chittagong.
• 07:35 am: Train passes through the crash site.
• 08:15 am: Rescue train arrives from Akhaura; rail operations temporarily halted.
• 09:30 am: Bus recovered from the tracks.

The collision resulted in 12 fatalities, with numerous passengers sustaining injuries. Authorities continue rescue and investigation efforts, stressing that safety protocols will be strictly reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This event has highlighted systemic gaps in railway safety management, prompting urgent calls for reinforced oversight and more rigorous enforcement of operational protocols.