Stone Attack on Rajshahi-Bound Train Injures Six

At least six passengers, including a young child, were injured when unidentified miscreants hurled stones at the intercity Silk City Express travelling from Dhaka to Rajshahi on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred just moments before the train was due to enter Boral Bridge Station in Pabna, casting a shadow over the festive Eid journey.

Eyewitnesses reported that the attack took place at approximately 7:35 pm on 18 March, while the train was approaching the station. A stone struck a window of the ‘G’ carriage, shattering the glass and sending shards flying into the compartment. Several passengers were hit, resulting in significant bleeding and panic among travellers returning home for the holidays.

The injured passengers include:

Dr. Habibul Awal described the scene as chaotic, stating that several passengers attempted to stem their own bleeding using makeshift measures. “It was alarming that during such a critical moment, there was no immediate assistance from the railway authorities,” he added.

Passengers repeatedly tried to contact the railway through the call centre at 131 and the hotline provided on their tickets, but received no response. Even attempts to reach the national emergency service 999 led to instructions to contact railway officials instead, leaving passengers to fend for themselves.

According to the victims, attempts to inform railway police and train guards via catering staff led to only one officer arriving about twenty minutes later, who reportedly left without properly addressing the incident.

When contacted, Mashiar Rahman, the train guard, claimed that he had not been informed of the stone-throwing incident and only became aware after the train reached Rajshahi Station.

The attack highlights growing concerns over passenger safety during peak travel periods, particularly when trains traverse areas with minimal policing or security oversight. Authorities have yet to issue a statement regarding any investigation into the perpetrators or plans to prevent such incidents in the future.