Level crossings or death traps?

According to a vernacular daily, a big accident could be averted at the Moghbazaar level crossing in the capital Wednesday just as a running train braked hard finding the red flag in the hand of a gate keeper.
Now the question is why the gate was still open when the train was coming? As the gate was open all kinds of vehicles were there on that level crossings right at that moment. However, the train had indeed hit a van carrying school children before it stopped and fortunately no casualties happened. For all the accidents that take place on a level crossing, the burden of responsibility primarily lies on the railway authorities.
The tally of deaths from these accidents is no small thing. The statistics show that at least 238 people were killed in 2014 at level-crossings in the capital alone. For deaths, callousness of people is also to blame. Last year, in the Kamalpur railway thana that includes Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj areas, 400 people died who were knocked down by trains.
But to avoid these accidents the railway authorities have to strictly guard the level crossings and maintain signals and the drivers of vehicles and passers-by must be obliged to heed these signals. According to National Road Safety Council, there are about 1200 ‘illegal’ level crossings without necessary gateman all across the country. These level crossings were constructed by different government bodies including local government engineering division, roads and highways department, city corporations and district councils without taking permission of the railway authorities. There are level crossings by private organisations also.
All of these level crossings must be made safe by the railway authorities through employing responsible and well trained gatekeepers. Where necessary, the railway authorities must take up the legal means to force those organisations that built illegal level crossings to fulfil legal requirements and maintain the crossings. Also the level crossings-- particularly at the crucial places in cities and towns --must be manned by efficient and responsible gate keepers. 

Level crossings or death traps?

According to a vernacular daily, a big accident could be averted at the Moghbazaar level crossing in the capital Wednesday just as a running train braked hard finding the red flag in the hand of a gate keeper. Now the question is why the gate was still open when the train was coming? As the gate was open all kinds of vehicles were there on that level crossings right at that moment. However, the train had indeed hit a van carrying school children before it stopped and fortunately no casualties happened. For all the accidents that take place on a level crossing, the burden of responsibility primarily lies on the railway authorities. The tally of deaths from these accidents is no small thing. The statistics show that at least 238 people were killed in 2014 at level-crossings in the capital alone. For deaths, callousness of people is also to blame. Last year, in the Kamalpur railway thana that includes Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj areas, 400 people died who were knocked down by trains. But to avoid these accidents the railway authorities have to strictly guard the level crossings and maintain signals and the drivers of vehicles and passers-by must be obliged to heed these signals. According to National Road Safety Council, there are about 1200 illegal level crossings without necessary gateman all across the country. These level crossings were constructed by different government bodies including local government engineering division, roads and highways department, city corporations and district councils without taking permission of the railway authorities. There are level crossings by private organisations also. All of these level crossings must be made safe by the railway authorities through employing responsible and well trained gatekeepers. Where necessary, the railway authorities must take up the legal means to force those organisations that built illegal level crossings to fulfil legal requirements and maintain the crossings. Also the level crossings-- particularly at the crucial places in cities and towns --must be manned by efficient and responsible gate keepers.