Train is considered as one of the safest transport in the world. This huge vehicle runs with thousands of passengers. Moreover, as the fare is relatively low compared to other transport, it is also popular among people of all professions.

The first railway in Bangladesh was established in 1862 by the British. Bangladesh did not exist then. On 15 November of the same year, Eastern Bengal Railway, the predecessor of Bangladesh Railway, opened the first railway line extending from Darshana Railway Station to Jagati Railway Station.

Being safe and economical, its popularity gradually increased. The length of railway lines has increased. New districts and upazilas have been brought under the network of railways. Many places have changed from single lines to double lines.

Railways are still the main means of transport for people in neighboring India. There, the development of railways in Bangladesh has repeatedly stalled due to corruption, mismanagement, lack of planning and years of losses. Although the development of railways has been noticed recently, its safety is still neglected.

The biggest railway accident in the history of the country took place on January 15, 1989. 170 passengers were killed when two trains collided head on at Mazukhan near Tongi. Another 400 people were injured. On February 2 of the same year, a train derailed near Chattogram, killing 13 people and injuring 200.

In addition, on March 22, 1983, 60 people were killed when a few spans broke while crossing the bridge near Ishwardi, 27 people died in a fire in the coach of Simanta Express bound for Parbatipur from Khulna on January 13, 1985, 25 people fell into the river when the train derailed near Bheramara on March 15, 1986 due to vandalism by the Sarbahara party. On January 13, a local train from Goalundo to Parbatipur, standing at Hili station, was hit by the Simanta express from Syedpur to Khulna. More than 50 passengers of two trains lost their lives in the head-on collision. Innocent passengers lose their lives every year in train accidents.

On August 5, 2023, the Shipping and Communication Reporters' Forum (SCRF) identified nine causes of accidents through monitoring and discussions with experts on rail transport systems and accidents.

The reasons are:

Indifference of the authorities, defects in signaling system, dangerous level crossings, addition of extra coaches to the engine capacity, shortage of stones in the railway line, dangerous railway bridges, lack of modern technology, shortage of manpower and shaky track as well as use of various materials including low quality sleepers and fishplates in the railway line.

Recently two new factors have been added to this. Train accident due to bending of railway line and breaking of equalizer beam in summer.

On March 4 of this year, at least 15 feet of railway line was seen bending near Azampur station of Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria on Sylhet-Dhaka railway. If the railway line bends in the relatively mild heat of March, it is a matter of consideration how safe the train journey will be in the scorching heat of April and May.

On Wednesday (April 17), the derailment occurred due to the breakage of the equalizer beam of the Dhaka-bound Jamuna Express train which left Tarakandi in Jamalpur, according to railway rescue workers. If this is correct the question remains as to the competence of those involved in its maintenance. Otherwise their extreme indifference is noticeable.

The intense heat wave is sweeping over various parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, which may continue for a few more days. As a result, the risk is increasing in trains, which are known as the safest means of transportation. Fatal accidents can occur due to overheating of railway tracks.

Mehdi Hasan Tarek, Assistant Executive Engineer of Akhaura Section, said that the temperature of 45 to 46 degrees Celsius is tolerable on the railway line. If somehow the temperature of the track rises to 48 to 50 degrees Celsius, then passenger trains have to run at a maximum speed of 40 kmph and freight trains at a maximum speed of 30 kmph. Otherwise, due to excessive heat, the railway line may bend somewhere and cause a fatal accident. In that case, if the temperature of the railway line is regularly monitored and measures are not taken, the possibility of a major accident cannot be ruled out at any time.

A fire has occurred in the potato-onion warehouse in the launch ghat and Patti area of Tongi Bazar in the capital. In this incident, five units of the fire service are working to extinguish. On Thursday (18 April), the duty officer of the control room of the fire service Rafi Al Farooq message confirmed this information to Barta24.com

Rafi Al Farooq said, the fire happened at 11:50 in the potato and onion warehouse in Tongi market. On receiving the information, 3 units of Tongi Fire Service and 2 units of Uttara Fire Service are working to extinguish the fire.

He also said that nothing can be confirmed about the origin of the fire and the casualties. 

The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed here at Faridpur on Wednesday in a befitting manner.

On this occasion, on the initiative of Faridpur district administration, a floral tribute to the mural of the Father of the Nation, a discussion meeting and prize distribution were held in the morning.

The mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman installed in the Deputy Commissioner's office

Wreaths were laid by the Faridpur district administration and later by the district police, after which various organizations laid wreaths. Then a discussion meeting was held under the chairmanship of Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md. Qamrul Ahsan Talukder PAA, Faridpur Superintendent of Police Morshed Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner Yasin Kabir, Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Salauddin Faridpur Civil Surgeon were present as,Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tamanna Tasnim, District Ansar VDP Commandant Nadira Yasmin, freedom fighter Abul Faiz, eminent educationist Professor Mohammad Shahjahan, Racin Executive Director Asma Akhter Mukta and other department officials were present. Later on the occasion of Mujibnagar Day Prizes were distributed among the winners of various competitions organized.

Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim pointed to BNP-Jamaat and said that today's Mujibnagar Day vow should be to resist those who want to hand over non-communal Bangladesh to communal forces.

He said this at a discussion meeting on Mujibnagar Day at the historical Mujibnagar Amrakanan in Meherpur on Wednesday (April 17) afternoon.

He said, we observe the day from our consciousness and the values of the liberation war. The oath of this day is to resist those who do not want the anti-independence non-sectarian power of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Awami League presidium council member Kazi Zafarullah said that Bangladesh was recognized by the international community through the oath of the first government on April 17, 1971.

On the other hand, accusing BNP of anti-national conspiracy, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, BNP and their domestic and foreign allies have distorted the history of the liberation war by creating the situation after 1975.

He also said that after the BNP came to power, the Collaborator Act was abolished and 15,000 war criminals were freed. Banned war criminals have given Jamaat-e-Islami an opportunity to do politics. They are still conspiring against Bangladesh. They do not believe in freedom.

In the speech of the chief guest, Kazi Zafarullah said that Mujibnagar Day is a matter of historical importance. But it is a matter of great regret that there is no nationwide initiative to celebrate the day. Therefore, he drew the attention of the Minister of Liberation War to take measures to observe the day at the district and upazila level of the country from next year.

Bangladesh Awami League organized this meeting to celebrate Mujibnagar Day on April 17, the day of swearing in of the first government in 1971. Besides, the district administration and Ministry of Liberation War organized various grand events around Amrakanan to celebrate the day.

Public Administration Minister Forhad Hossain was the special speaker on the occasion, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque was the guest of honor. Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton, son of the first government's Home, Agriculture and Rehabilitation Minister AHM Kamruzzaman, State Minister for Children and Women Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi, daughter of the first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed, Awami League Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain were special guests. The special speaker was Dr. Abu Saleh Mohammad Nazmul Haque Sagar, Member of Parliament for Meherpur-2 Constituency, District A-League General Secretary MA Khalek, Member of Bangladesh Awami League Syeda Zakia Noor Lipi, Adv. Amirul Alam Milan, Parveen Zaman Kalpana and Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee. Central and local leaders of Awami League were present.

Earlier, ministers, government officials and Awami League leaders laid wreaths at the Mujibnagar memorial at 9:30 am. Awami League leaders hoisted the national and party flags after laying wreaths. This was followed by a guard of honor and parade. Police, BGB, Ansar, BNCC, Girl's Guide and the parade of students from various educational institutions impressed the thousands of people present.

In the second phase, the discussion meeting was held at the Sheikh Hasina stage. At the end of the discussion, the Bangladesh Ansar-VDP orchestra team performed a ballad called "Sonali Sapner Desh" where the development activities of the government are highlighted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Liberation War and Meherpur district administration jointly organized a grand event. From the previous day, festoons, arcades, colors and lighting were done all over the Mujibnagar complex. In the evening, artists of the country will perform music in a wonderful cultural program.