The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Brahmanbaria

The death toll in Tuesday night's fatal train accident at Ashuganj rail-station on the Dhaka-Chittagong route rose to 8 with the recovery of two more bodies Wednesday while the injury figure climbed over 50.

One of the dead was identified as Tajul Islam, a guard of Noakhali Express, one of two trains that collided in the accident, while the rest could not still be identified.

Train communications on Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet routes resumed 11.30am, 11 hours after the late-night tragic accident.

Police said the accident took place at about 00:20am when Sylhet-bound 'Upaban Express' from Dhaka rammed into the 'Noakhali Express' standing at the station, leaving six of the stationary train' s passengers dead on the spot.

Fifty-four other passengers of the 'Noakhali Express' were also injured in the accident that left two of its rear bogies mangled and the engine of the 'Upaban Express' damaged partially.

Of the injured, two died at Ashuganj Health Complex early yesterday morning while the rest were admitted to the health complex and other hospitals and clinics.

Sources said all the employees of the Ashuganj railway station, including its stationmaster, went into hiding after the accident.

A railway inquiry team from Dhaka started investigating the accident.

Bangladesh Railway today formed a four-member committee headed by Chief Operating Superintendent Shah Jahirul Huda for a thorough investigation.

"The committee has been asked to submit its report within 48 hours," said a BR high official of the railway's eastern zone.

Meanwhile, the GM office of the eastern zone, in an order today, suspended four employees in a punitive action for the accident. They are Upaban Express' loco-master Kabir, assistant loco-master Saidul Islam and its guard, and Ashuganj stationmaster Humayun Kabir.

Communications Secretary Mahbubur Rahman visited the scene and the injured people undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital.