Rail communication between Dhaka and the country’s northern districts was temporarily disrupted after a power car and one coach of the Dhaka-to-Panchagarh intercity Ekota Express derailed while entering Ishwardi Bypass Railway Station in Pabna on Monday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 4:00pm on July 13, causing a suspension of train movement on the route and leaving several trains stranded at different stations. No casualties were reported.
Mosa. Hasina Khatun, divisional Commercial officer of Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshi Division (Western Zone), told Red Times News that the Ekota Express derailed while entering Ishwardi Bypass Station.
Following the incident, railway authorities immediately dispatched a relief train and launched rescue operations to clear the affected track, she said.
According to railway sources, the derailed power car and the damaged coach were detached from the train, while the remaining coaches were allowed to continue their journey to Panchagarh. At the same time, other trains, including the Dhaka-bound Padma Express, were diverted through alternative routes to minimise disruption.
Abdul Alim, station master of Ishwardi Bypass Station, said rescue operations were completed successfully, but train movement on the affected track could not resume immediately because the derailment had damaged the railway line.
“However, train services between Dhaka and the northern region resumed around 7:15pm through an alternative route via Ishwardi Station,” he said.
He added that repair work on the damaged track is underway and railway engineers are continuing to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, the Pakshi Divisional Railway Authority has formed a five-member investigation committee to determine the cause of the derailment.
Divisional Transportation Officer (DTO) Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan has been appointed convener of the committee.
Other members include Divisional Engineer-2 Najib Qaiser, Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Carriage) Sheikh Asif Ahmed, Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Locomotive) Robiul Islam, and Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer Ahmed Ishtiaq Jahur.
The committee has been asked to submit its findings within three working days. The report is expected to outline the cause of the accident, assess the extent of the damage, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Hasina Khatun said Bangladesh Railway regretted the temporary inconvenience caused to passengers and assured that appropriate action would be taken once the investigation is completed.
Although no injuries were reported, the derailment briefly disrupted train operations on one of the country’s key rail corridors. Railway officials said prompt rescue efforts and alternative operating arrangements helped restore normal services within a few hours.
