A recurring issue of stone-throwing at moving trains on the Cox’s Bazar route has once again resulted in injuries, with two passengers hurt aboard the Cox’s Bazar Express travelling from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka on Monday afternoon.
According to railway authorities and eyewitness accounts, the train departed Cox’s Bazar station at approximately 12:30 pm. The incident occurred while the train was passing through the Chakaria area, when a stone was thrown from outside and struck a non-air-conditioned coach. The affected passengers were seated in seats 35 and 36 of the same carriage.
The injured passengers have been identified as Mohammad Himel Ahmed (25) and Mohammad Abu Sayeed (40). Himel Ahmed sustained serious facial injuries, including the fracture of four teeth and a tear to the inner part of his lower lip, which may require stitches. Abu Sayeed suffered injuries to his neck.
Both passengers received initial medical treatment at Chattogram Railway Station. After treatment, the train resumed its journey towards Dhaka at approximately 4:15 pm.
A fellow passenger, Saiful Islam, stated that the group of 18 to 20 travellers had returned from a leisure trip to Cox’s Bazar, having travelled from Birampur in Dinajpur. He further noted that Himel Ahmed’s dental injuries were severe, while Abu Sayeed’s neck injury caused significant discomfort.
Saiful Islam also alleged operational delays in the response to the incident, claiming that the train attendant was absent from the coach at the time of the attack. He further stated that the guard and attendant arrived late after being informed. According to his account, a railway police member provided assistance, but there was dissatisfaction among passengers regarding the overall response. He also added that when the matter was reported to a local police station, passengers were questioned regarding whether the train windows had been left open, which contributed to further dissatisfaction among those on board.
Incidents of stone-throwing at trains in the eastern railway network are not uncommon. Over the past year, at least 145 such incidents have been recorded across various routes, resulting in 39 reported injuries. In addition, several cases of damage to train doors and windows have also been documented. The Cox’s Bazar route has recorded the highest number of such incidents.
A summary of recent statistics is presented below:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total stone-throwing incidents (last year) | 145 |
| Total injured passengers | 39 |
| Incidents on Cox’s Bazar route | 38 |
| Injured on Cox’s Bazar route | 14 |
At present, four pairs of trains operate on the Cox’s Bazar route, including two services between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar and two between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. Additional special trains are operated during periods of high passenger demand. The increasing popularity of this route has coincided with ongoing safety concerns linked to repeated stone-throwing incidents.
Regarding the latest incident, Bangladesh Railway’s Chattogram Divisional Transport Officer, Md Anisur Rahman, stated that measures are being taken to prevent such occurrences. He noted that the Railway Police have been instructed to enhance surveillance in the Chakaria and Harbang areas, alongside other operational steps being implemented by the railway authorities.