Rail communications between Dhaka and five northern districts resumed 22 hours after nine coaches of the Nilsagar Express derailed at Bagmari under Adamdighi upazila in Bogura on Wednesday afternoon.
The tracks were cleared and officially reopened at 12:00 PM, with the Khulna-bound Simanta Express being the first passenger train to pass through the repaired section at Bagbari.
The crisis began at approximately 2:00 PM on Wednesday when nine coaches of the Chilahati-bound Nilsagar Express jumped the tracks shortly after departing the Santahar Railway Junction.
The accident left over a hundred passengers, many traveling home for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, with various injuries.
Ahmed Hossain Masum, Chief Engineer of Western Railway, said that rescue teams worked through the night to restore the line.
"Two relief trains from Ishwardi and Parbatipur reached the spot on Wednesday evening to begin moving the wrecked coaches," Masum explained.
While the tracks are now open for transit, the Chief Engineer noted that trains would be required to maintain a restricted slow speed while passing the Bagbari area as permanent repair work continues. He also expressed deep regret to the public for the accident occurring during the peak Eid travel rush.
Following the incident, the railway authorities suspended Santahar Assistant Station Master Shahidul Islam Ranju for negligence of duty.
Additionally, a four-member investigation committee has been formed to determine the exact cause of the derailment and whether technical failure or human error was to blame.
Because the derailment happened at the height of the Eid holiday rush, thousands of people faced extreme hardships.
With rail services suspended for nearly a day, families, including women and children, were forced to disembark and walk long distances with heavy luggage through the tracks to find alternative transportation.
Arman Hossain Ruman/MHK