Families to Receive Compensation After Comilla Collision:Railway Minister

In the wake of a tragic accident at Paduar Bazar level crossing in Comilla, where a bus collided with a train on the busy Dhaka–Chittagong highway, twelve people lost their lives. Railway State Minister Habibur Rashid confirmed on Sunday that the railway authority will provide a compensation of BDT 100,000 to each family of the deceased. The minister visited the accident site at around 12:00 pm to assess the situation firsthand.

Speaking at the scene, Rashid said, “Each family who lost a loved one in this tragic collision will receive BDT 100,000 from the railway authorities. In addition, the Comilla district administration will provide BDT 25,000 to the families of the deceased and BDT 15,000 to those injured.” He also confirmed that the government will cover all medical expenses for the injured.

The minister emphasised that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is personally monitoring the situation and that the Ministry of Health has been instructed to ensure adequate treatment for those requiring transfer to hospitals in Dhaka.

Addressing accountability, Rashid added, “Those whose negligence contributed to this accident will be investigated, and appropriate punitive measures will be taken. The government is considering converting unprotected level crossings into overpasses or underpasses to prevent future tragedies.” He further revealed that the railway authorities had already dismissed two employees found responsible for lapses in duty.

Earlier, at around 11:00 am, Minister for Fisheries, Livestock, Food and Agriculture, Mohammad Aminur Rashid, also visited the site. He remarked, “It appears that the gate was open, allowing the bus to enter the train track, which led to this devastating accident.” He described the incident as deeply regrettable and noted that the district administration immediately provided BDT 25,000 to each deceased person’s family to assist with funeral arrangements.

Compensation and Support Breakdown

Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus driver entered the tracks at an unprotected crossing, highlighting the urgent need for improved railway safety infrastructure. This incident has once again brought attention to the dangers of unguarded level crossings in Bangladesh.

Authorities have pledged to take swift action to prevent such accidents in the future and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The government is also accelerating plans to upgrade vulnerable crossings across the country to overpasses or underpasses, aiming to strengthen public safety along major highways.