The 133-kilometre Bhairab-Mymensingh railway tracks under the Eastern Railway of then-British India was inaugurated in 1917. Of the railway track some 81 kilometres from Kalikaprasad of Bhairab to Ishwarganj of Mymensingh have been left without any renovation and modernization for a long time.
It is learnt due to irresponsibility and neglect of the officials and employees of the railway department, the stones from under the railway track have been removed, grass has been grown and soil under the track has been displaced. The elastic and iron rail clips of the rail line are being stolen making the railway tract from Kalikaprasad to Ishwarganj loose and risky for moving the train. The vulnerable railway track, date expired railway bridge and use of outdated locomotives and coaches are making the railway journey highly risky through the route. Specially, due to recurrent accidents on the track made the passengers travelling the route panicky.
Still, several thousands of people are visiting through the trains on this route by risking their lives daily. The people of Kihsoreganj are demanding to repair and renovate the railway tracks as soon as possible.
Railway sources informed, excepting the goods trains and the fuel wagons, ten trains moved through the route daily. The trains are Chattogram bound Nasirabad Express, Mymensingh to Chattagram bound Bijoy Express, daily two times Intercity Egrosindur trains from Dhaka, daily two times Egarosindur Intercity trains from Kishorganj and Dhaka to Kishoreganj bound Kishoreganj Express up and down trains.
There having no Computer-based interlocking system, the trains are experiencing serious troubles at every railway station. Specially, it kills a lot of time during the crossing of two trains in a station.
There are 21 railway stations on the Bhairab-Mymensingh railway track. Out of those stations, 9 stations remained inoperative due to shortages of manpower. The stations are Kalikaprasad, Chhoisuti, Halimpur, Bokaingagar, Nilgangan, Jashodal and three more stations.
Engineering Department sources of the railway informed the non-introduction of a relay interlocking system on the railway track is causing severe problems during the stoppages of the trains in the stations. Especially, it takes a lot of time to signal the trains. Journeying through the 81-kilometre railway tract from Bhairab railway junction to Ishwarganj of Mymensing is highly risky because the tract remained without maintenance and repair for a long time.
The engineering department has identified two problems on the 133-kilometre track. There are insufficient stones on the tract and the damaged slippers in both the up and the down tracts in 24 points. Already the tender for the renovation of the track has been invited and the stones will be placed under the track from next week. The replacement of the damaged slippers will also be started soon and be completed by February next.
Railway authorities further informed that, as against the posts of 110 Way Men, only 34 are now posted. Due to the need for manpower, the grass of the railway track can not be cleaned regularly and the incident of stealing railway clips is also rampant.
There are nine large and small rail bridges and culverts on the track. All these bridges and culverts have surpassed their expiry date. As a result, movement through these bridges and the culverts is very risky. There have been 15 accidents, including derailments of the engines and the boggies from the track during the last three years. Moreover, on October 23 this year, 18 passengers were killed in a head-on collision with an Egarosindur Express train and a goods train at Bhairab of Kishoreganj.
Guards travelling on the trains in this route informed due to the vulnerable railway track, the speed of the trains can not be increased. They always remain in fear and panic. As a result, they are forced to move the trains at slow speed.
Jubayer Siddiqk, a regular passenger of rail informed, that the condition of the railway track from Kishoreganj to Bhairab is very risky. As a result, there are accidents every month on this track. The railway track on the route should be repaired and renovated on an urgent basis.
Kishoreganj Sammilito Nagorik Forum has been staging a movement for the last eight years to realise a five-point demand including the reconstruction of the railway track. Convener of the organisation Enayet Karim said,’ We have been staging movement for a long time but there is no one to care for our demands. Who will take responsibility for the deaths in the accident at Bhairab last October?’
He said they are demanding the construction Kalikaprasad bypass which will save time and the risk of accidents would also be less. We are also demanding a double railway tracks from Mymensingh to Bhairab but no step has yet been taken from the railway authorities in this connection.
The Railway Inspector of Kishoreganj informed the railway tracks are not vulnerable but not also in very good condition. The repair work is continuing at some points and after the end of the repair work, the journey will be smooth. He mentioned, there were three incidents of derailment from the track under his area during the last 11 months and those were caused due to age-old locomotives and the negligence of the Points men.
Mijanur Rahman, Station Master of Kishoreganj informed the railway track constructed during the British era has not been changed or renovated. Last year a Chinese team visited and inspected the railway track. He has heard, the railway track will be repaired and renovated soon.