The Bangladesh railway authorities need to take immediate steps so that the rail bridge, at Banashua in Cumilla, does not become a reason for deaths of people. According to a report published in this newspaper yesterday four people were crushed to death by trains on the bridge just within four days recently.

Why do people die here? People who use the bridge to save time or just walk on it for fun cannot see an approaching train because there is a 45 degree turn on the south side of the bridge. Still there are bushes on the both side that prevent one’s eyesight to what lies beyond the bushes.

Moreover, these days many coffee shops have mushroomed on both banks of Gumti River near the bridge making these places a hangout for people. There are also two roads on both sides of the bridge crossing the rail tracks. And needless to mention, like many other level crossing, gatemen are not employed there. All these factors have made the Banashua Bridge virtually a deathtrap.

Some days ago, the railway authorities proactively decided to stop train’s rooftop journey of people. In this regard, the railway police has also taken some steps including preventing people to climb over a train by announcing that it is a punishable offence if someone makes rooftop journey. In a day, this wrong habit of people cannot be prevented. It will take time. But there must be a continuation of this effort.

Similarly, the rail authorities should also identify what particular bridges are unsafe for people. But more important it is to make sure that all the level crossings of the country are safe, as every year a lot of people die because of the fault of the pedestrian or because of absence of gateman in the level crossings.      

Coming back to Banashua Bridge, the senior deputy assistant engineer of Cumilla railway Liakat Ali Majumder informed that a new railway bridge would be constructed to replace the old one. The sooner it is done is better.