PHOTO: ABDUL KUDDUS

I read the news of Sirajganj rail accident carefully in The Daily Star of 12th October captioned 'Who is to be blamed?'
1. Did Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, President of Sirajganj district unit of BNP, take permission from the relevant authorities for holding mass rally and meeting in that area?
2. The meeting place was not the usual one and not suitable for holding public meeting.
3. The meeting place was only 15 yards away from the railway tracts, and BNP volunteers had no control over the meeting goers. The volunteering and organising efficiency was poor.
4. They should not have allowed people to sit on the railway tracts. Railway tract is meant for trains only.
5. A train may be delayed for many technical reasons. The organisers should not have taken the train schedule for granted.
So, from the analysis of the incidence it appears Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tutu, as the chief organiser and President of Siajganj district BNP unit, should be blamed for the death of five persons. Proper action should be taken against such irresponsible destructive elements. Nobody is above the law.

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Burning and torching vehicles is very common in Bangladesh. If a small accident occurs at any place, and the vehicle which has caused the accident quickly runs away from the scene, the nearby people immediately gather at the spot and start breaking all the vehicles, no matter whether those vehicles are responsible or not. None at the spot enquire about who was at fault - the victim or the driver. Accidents happen everywhere in the world. In the USA, no vehicle runs away from the scene. It is the police who rush to the spot.
Of course, death of 5 people in this incident is tragic and we feel sorry for those who lost their lives. But death in an accident cannot be made an issue to oust the government. I don't think democracy will ever be able to take strong roots in Bangladesh.
Shafiqul Islam, NY