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Published : 22 Mar 2026, 10:51 AM
Two gatekeepers have been suspended following the deaths of 12 people in a collision between a train and a bus at a level crossing in Cumilla on Eid day.
Railway authorities have formed two separate investigation committees over the crash, according to Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, divisional railway manager of Railway East Zone in Chattogram.
The local administration has also launched its own inquiry with a deadline of three working days to submit its findings, said Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan.
He added that the families of those killed would each receive Tk 25,000 in assistance.
The accident took place early on Saturday at the Paduar Bazar rail crossing on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.
The Dhaka-bound Dhaka Mail from Chattogram was passing through the crossing when a Mamun Special bus travelling from Chuadanga to Lakshmipur moved onto the tracks, resulting in the collision.
At least 12 people were killed on the spot and eight others were injured.
The bus was badly mangled in the impact and dragged nearly a kilometre by the train.
The two gatekeepers on duty at the time, identified by their first names as Mehedi and Helal, have been suspended.
The injured were admitted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.
Residential Medical Officer Ajay Bhowmik said most of crash victims had suffered serious head injuries, while two critically injured patients had been taken to the ICU.
He added that 18 others with minor injuries received first aid and later left the hospital.
A rescue train reached the scene from Akhaura around five hours after the crash and began recovery work.
By around 10am, the bus had been removed from the up line, or Dhaka-bound track, and efforts were under way to restore normal train movement.
Mohammad Idris, assistant director of the Cumilla Fire Service, said initial indications suggested negligence by the gatekeeper may have been behind the accident.
