Bangladesh rail route records over 100 deaths as safety upgrades stall

More than 100 people have died in train-related accidents along Bangladesh’s Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway since commercial services began in December 2023, The Business Standard reported Tuesday.

Bangladesh Railway data show that 56 of 99 authorized level crossings on the route lack both barriers and gatekeepers. Another 77 unauthorized crossing points expose pedestrians and vehicles to approaching trains.

A committee recommended gates and gatekeepers at 10 crossings, but the upgrades remain pending. Eastern zone chief engineer Md Tanvirul Islam said implementation requires at least 30 gatekeepers and faces staffing shortages, budget constraints, and approval procedures.

Officials said 22 illegal crossings on the older railway section had been closed, but residents continued creating alternative paths. Former engineering professor Mahmud Omar Imam called for barriers, round-the-clock gatekeepers, warning bells, and red lights at busy crossings.