Bangladeshi Lawyer Loses Eye in Shocking Train Stoning Incident

A prominent advocate from Brahmanbaria has lost his right eye after being struck by a stone hurled at a moving train, sparking widespread public outrage and intense scrutiny over railway security across Bangladesh. The victim, forty-five-year-old Shyamal Chandra Das, underwent emergency surgery at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday, where surgeons were forced to completely remove the severely damaged organ.

The gravity of the incident came to light on Wednesday, triggering waves of condemnation across social media platforms. Members of the public, legal professionals, and transport safety advocates have united in demanding the immediate identification and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the mindless act of vandalism.

According to Mansurul Haq Mona, the president of the Brahmanbaria Income Tax Bar Association, the tragedy unfolded whilst the pair were returning from a routine family trip to the capital. Having completed their business in Dhaka on Monday morning, they boarded the overnight Turna Nishita express train, a major intercity service connecting Dhaka and Chittagong, to head back to Brahmanbaria.

The two colleagues were seated in the ‘No’ carriage of the train. At approximately 1:30 am on Tuesday, as the express train was speeding past the Talshahr railway station in the Ashuganj upazila, a heavy stone shattered the window. The projectile struck Mr Das directly in his right eye, causing immediate, catastrophic trauma and heavy bleeding.

Upon reaching the Brahmanbaria railway station, railway staff and companions rushed the critically injured lawyer to the local District Sadar Hospital. Recognising the severity of the ocular trauma, the attending medical officers administered preliminary treatment before referring him to specialised care in the capital. He was transferred back to Dhaka during the early hours of Tuesday morning, where a surgical team operated from midday until late afternoon in a futile bid to save his sight.

Incidents of stone-throwing at moving trains have emerged as a persistent and lethal hazard across the Bangladeshi railway network in recent years. Despite numerous awareness campaigns launched by the authorities and stricter surveillance protocols at vulnerable junctions, locomotives and passenger carriages frequently come under attack, often from youths or vandals loitering near the tracks under the cover of darkness.

Responding to the rising public anger, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shah Alam, the officer-in-charge of the Brahmanbaria Railway Police Outpost, stated that law enforcement became aware of the tragedy through social media reports. He noted that official details regarding the exact perimeter of the attack remain under investigation, as the incident occurred whilst the train was in transit between stations. Railway police have launched an inquiry to determine the precise location of the assault and apprehend the perpetrators.