A fatal railway accident occurred in the Abhaynagar Upazila of Jessore district on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of a lorry driver. The incident took place at an unauthorised level crossing in the Masharhati area when a moving train collided with a stationary vehicle on the tracks.
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Circumstances of the Collision
According to eyewitness reports and the Railway Police, the accident occurred around 12:30 pm. The geographical layout of the Masharhati area features the Jessore-Khulna Highway running parallel to the Khulna-Rajshahi railway line. Situated adjacent to these tracks is a coal depot belonging to Akij Resources.
On the day of the incident, a lorry was attempting to manoeuvre from the Jessore-Khulna Highway toward the coal depot to load cargo. The driver was reportedly reversing the vehicle slowly across the railway tracks. At approximately 12:30 pm, while the rear portion of the lorry was still positioned on the tracks, the Mahananda Express—travelling from Khulna to Chapainawabganj—struck the vehicle.
The force of the impact caused the lorry to overturn. The driver, identified as 60-year-old Monowar Hossain, was thrown from the cab onto the railway line. He was subsequently struck by the train and died instantly at the scene. Mr Hossain was a resident of Arpara village, located in the Kaliganj Upazila of Jhenaidah district.
Official Statements and Infrastructure Concerns
Yasin Arafat, the Station Master of Nawapara Railway Station, confirmed the timing of the train’s movement. He stated that the Mahananda Express departed Nawapara Station at 12:23 pm. The collision occurred approximately seven minutes later at the Masharhati crossing.
Crucially, Mr Arafat noted that the specific crossing where the accident happened is classified as “illegal” or unauthorised. Local reports indicate that there is no gatekeeper stationed at this location, nor are there any automated or manual barriers to regulate vehicular traffic during the passage of trains.
Despite the severity of the collision and the recovery operation, railway officials confirmed that train services on the route were not significantly disrupted and have remained normal following the incident.
Legal and Investigatory Status
Sub-Inspector (SI) Jyotish Chandra Barman of the Jessore Railway Police Outpost (GRP) attended the scene. He confirmed that the body had been recovered and that the authorities are currently in the process of initiating legal proceedings regarding the accident.
Summary of Incident Details
| Category | Details |
| Date and Time | Sunday, approx. 12:30 pm |
| Location | Masharhati, Abhaynagar, Jessore |
| Deceased | Monowar Hossain (60), Arpara, Jhenaidah |
| Train Involved | Mahananda Express (Khulna to Chapainawabganj) |
| Vehicle Type | Lorry / Truck |
| Crossing Status | Unauthorised (No gatekeeper or barriers) |
| Outcome | Driver deceased; Train services normal |
Regional Context of Unauthorised Crossings
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding unauthorised level crossings in Bangladesh. According to data from the Bangladesh Railway, thousands of such crossings exist across the national network. These “unauthorised” points are often created by local residents or businesses for convenience but lack the essential safety infrastructure—such as signal lights, bells, or physical barriers—required to prevent collisions between road vehicles and locomotives. In the Jessore-Khulna corridor, industrial activities near the tracks, such as coal and freight handling, frequently increase the risk of such encounters.