Mirsarai tragedy: Some coincidences are akin to death traps | The Daily Star
Skip to main content
T
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
The Daily Star
E-paper Today's News বাংলা
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
Search Epaper T
  • Today's News
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
CHINTITO SINCE 1995

Mirsarai tragedy: Some coincidences are akin to death traps

Nizamuddin Ahmed
Mon Aug 29, 2022 08:30 PM Last update on: Mon Aug 29, 2022 08:44 PM
More than ever before, the Mirsarai tragedy highlights the need for trained gatekeepers with adequate pay. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SUMAN

On July 29, the Mahanagar Provati Express started from Dhaka for Chattogram. Unrelated until the tragedy, students and teachers of R&J Coaching Centre in Hathazari started towards Khoiyachhara Waterfall in a microbus, their touristic destination being Chattogram's Mirsarai upazila. No mortal knew that the two vehicles would meet at 1:30pm at Khoiyachhara level crossing with tragic consequences.

Eleven passengers of the microbus, including seven students, were killed in the collision, as the train, before decelerating, dragged it for a kilometre along the track. Six persons were severely injured.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

The on-duty guard at the crossing had gone to offer his Jumma prayers, leaving the converging vehicles at the mercy of destiny, although he claimed he had lowered the boom barriers on both sides of the track. It may have been his regular practice. Was it a coincidence on that fateful Friday? Or neglect of duty by the gateman?

R&J Coaching Centre
Read more

The coaching centre falls silent after Mirsharai accident

In a further twist of fate, according to the Bangladesh Railway (BR) authorities, after a train from Chattogram had crossed the gate, and assuming the coast was clear and therefore safe, the passengers of the microbus ill-advisedly and perilously lifted the boom barriers. As the microbus resumed its journey, the Mahanagar Provati arrived and hit the microbus. Was it a coincidence? Or a lack of citizens' responsibility?

In performing his religious obligation, the guard, now under arrest, ignored his duty as prescribed in Islam. Islam, like perhaps all religions, lays importance on duty. Work is ibadah, i.e. worship. "If one makes the intention to seek a halal rizq (sustenance) that is pleasing to Allah, then his/her work becomes an act of worship which the individual is rewarded for."

Namaz is a part of a Muslim's normal daily routine. It is a Muslim's duty to God. One should not make prayers an issue to neglect one's duty. This happens in our offices and factories. Some of us take unusually long breaks for namaz.

In order to accommodate duties and chores of life, Islam has a system of waqt, a range of time for each of the five daily prayers. Congregational prayers in masjids, although encouraged, are not obligatory. Then there is qaza, meaning make-up prayers, if one has missed a waqt.

On that ill-fated afternoon, gross negligence by the guard, miscalculation and reckless conduct on the part of both parties – the driver and the microbus passengers, as well as the speed of the train as it passed the level crossing – are the causes of the tragic mishap.

According to BR data released in 2020, at least 419 people were killed and more than 2,000 sustained injuries in 4,914 train accidents at different level crossings, both legal and illegal, over the preceding 15 years. That's almost 30 fatalities per year. During that period, 961 legal level crossings did not have any gatekeepers, turning them into hotspots for accidents.

The BR, as well as the roads and highways authorities, should survey every level crossing across the country to assess traffic flow capacity. If vehicles cross a railway track regularly, stringent structural and supervisory safety measures must be put in place. Constructing overpasses at busy city and municipal level crossings will improve the situation. More than ever before, the Mirsarai misfortune highlights the need for trained gatekeepers with adequate pay.

 

Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed is an architect and a professor, a Commonwealth scholar and a fellow, Woodbadger scout leader, Baden-Powell fellow, and a Major Donor Rotarian.

Related topic:
Mirsarai TragedyMirsarai train-microbus collisionBangladesh Railwaylevel crossings in Bangladesh
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

Ctg-Sylhet route: No new train in 20 years

Mixed reactions as BR starts implementing new preregistration system

Mixed reactions as BR starts implementing new ticketing system

2w ago
Bangladesh Railway and the political dynamite

Bangladesh Railway and the political dynamite

Bangladesh Locomotive workshop

Locomotive workshop facing worker, fund shortages

Joydebpur-Ishwardi double line

Joydebpur-Ishwardi double line not before 2028

৭ ঘণ্টা আগে|স্টার মাল্টিমিডিয়া

কার বা কাদের টাকা আরাভের কাছে?

হতদরিদ্র অবস্থা থেকে মাত্র ৪-৫ বছরের মধ্যে আরাভ খান কীভাবে এত অর্থের মালিক হলেন?

২ ঘণ্টা আগে|বাংলাদেশ

মোটরসাইকেলের গতিসীমা ৩০ কিমি করার প্রস্তাবে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর অসন্তোষ

The Daily Star
Journalism without fear or favour
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2023 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.
X