People were gathered on the phone, attacked the train when the train stopped at the station

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He boarded the air-conditioned (AC) coach despite not having a train ticket. The ticket holders requested the railway staff to remove the ticketless passengers from the compartment. This started a discussion, eventually a fight. A passenger without a ticket called through the mobile phone. Told the person on the other end to take 10-12 people to the station. As soon as the train stopped at the station, the people who were already there hurriedly got up. He started beating the passengers inside the compartment. He got off the train.

The attack on the ticket holders took place in the Chattla Express train from Dhaka to Chittagong. A railway inquiry revealed the true nature of the beating of passengers. The incident took place on the evening of April 6 at Methikanda station in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi.

Railways formed a three-member investigation committee headed by Divisional Transport Officer Anisur Rahman in the incident of such attacks on train passengers. The committee has recently submitted its report.

The committee has found evidence of negligence of at least eight railway workers for such incidents. Various disciplinary measures have been recommended against them.

Apart from this, the members of the committee have also given their opinion in favor of canceling the stoppage of intercity trains at those stations from which passengers without tickets boarded and behaved disorderly. The investigation committee has found evidence that such incidents happen especially at Narsingdi and Methikanda stations.

Confirming the submission of the investigation report, Divisional Transport Officer Anisur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the attack on train ticket holders is unacceptable. Punitive action has been recommended against those whose negligence and carelessness have caused this incident. Such incidents happen in some stations. Actions are taken to prevent it.

The Chattla Express train left Dhaka for Chittagong at 5:15 pm on April 6. There were 18 compartments in that train. There was an attack on ticket holders in ‘C’ compartment.

The investigation committee spoke to 13 employees of Chattala Express and various railway offices to find out the real reason behind the incident. They included Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE), Guard or Director, Khalasi, Assistant Stationmaster, Catering Manager, Inspector of Railway Security Force and Sipahi, Constable of Railway Station.

Railway staff in charge of Chattla Express said that ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ coaches are air-conditioned (AC) coaches. But there were many passengers with standing tickets and without tickets in these compartments. But they have no chance to come here. The ticket holders repeatedly requested to remove these passengers from the compartment. This is discussed.

Later, with the help of RNB, Railway Police and TTE, ticketless passengers were evicted from the AC compartment. One side of ‘C’ compartment is locked. But 10-12 passengers broke the lock and entered again. Then they got into a fight with the passengers. Meanwhile, one of those passengers called and asked 10-12 people to stay at Methikanda station. Due to pressure of passengers in the coaches, Railway Police and RNB personnel could not arrive on time. In between, the train stops at Methikanda station. Immediately, 10-12 people from outside came inside the train compartment and started beating the passengers. He also tried to kill the railway workers. The other passengers inside the compartment could not stop them despite their efforts. Later, when the train was released, the attackers quickly got off.

In this attack, a university-seeking student, along with two family members and an employee were injured.

The inquiry committee has made several recommendations regarding the attack on the passengers of the AC compartment in the intercity train. This includes canceling stops of intercity trains at stations where ticketless passengers boarded and behaved unruly. The committee mentioned the names of Narsingdi and Methikanda stations.

According to the committee, such incidents occur repeatedly at Narsingdi and Methikanda stations. Therefore, to prevent it, forming a committee consisting of civil society representatives, youth representatives, local administration and responsible members of police stations, stations and railways. So that the committee can play an effective role in solving such problems.

A separate coach for standing ticket holders should be added to each intercity coach. In no way can standing passengers enter AC coaches and disturb security, every coach must have an attendant and a conductor guard in the train.

The members of GRP and RNB on duty in the train will coordinate with the guards and attendants on duty so that they do not sit in convenient places. Attendants should be appointed in every coach to prevent ticketless passengers and failure to perform the duty would be punishable.

The inquiry committee has found evidence of the negligence of at least eight employees in the attack by ticketless passengers on intercity trains. The committee has recommended various disciplinary measures against them.

Among them, Khalasi Mosharraf Hossain was not given responsibility in the Chattla Express train. Two RNB members Sepahi SM Mustafizur Rahman and Md. failed to solve the problem inside the compartment. Anisul Islam Patwari should not be given responsibility in any future moving train.

The four TTEs in charge of trains are recommended to be removed from duty in such trains and disciplinary action against them is recommended. Among them, TTE Tanjim Faraji, who was absent from the train, has been asked to be transferred elsewhere. Railway worker Zahedul Haque was transferred to another train.