Make staff well prepared to check train accidents: PM

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for making the railway staff better prepared and alert to prevent train accidents, particularly during winter.

 ‘I don’t know exactly why I see rail accidents occurring with the advent of winter, not only in our country but also throughout the world. Those who work in the rail ways should be made more alert while loco masters need to be provided training as well,’ she said expressing deep shock at the casualties in Tuesday’s Kasba train collusion.

The prime minister was addressing the 34th meeting of the board of governors of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority.

Sheikh Hasina, also the chairperson of BEPZA board of governors, chaired the meeting held at the prime minister’s office.

She said the rail communications were supposed to be the safest ones and her government was also giving importance to this sector.

Describing the accident as very shocking, she said, ‘We could protect ourselves from a natural disaster like Bulbul, but it’s unfortunate that an accident occurred here (at Kasba, Brahmanbaria).’

The prime minister said the railways minister had already gone to the spot and all necessary things were being done for the proper rescue operation.

She prayed for salvation of the departed souls of those who were killed and early recovery of the injured in the train collusion.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, textiles and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid, state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and state minister for labour and employment Begum Munnujan Sufian were present.

PM’s principal secretary Md Nojibur Rahman conducted the meeting. PMO secretary Sajjadul Hassan and PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim were also present.

Meanwhile, president Abdul Hamid mourned the death in Brahmanbaria train mishap, reports BSS.

In a condolence message, the head of the state expressed deep shock and sorrow at the tragic death in the accident.

President Hamid prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.

The president also asked local administration and public representatives to provide all necessary assistances to the victims.

Speaker of the parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, deputy speakers, ministers and state ministers of different ministry expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of several people in train mishap.

In different condolence message, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.

Deputy speaker M Fazle Rabbi Miah, law minister Anisul Huq, finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, health minister Zahid Maleaque, railways minister Nurul Islam Sujan, environment minister M Shahab Uddin, chief whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, railways state minister and Awami League organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net