Station master, deputy blamed in probe into Ctg incident

A three-member committee of Bangladesh Railway which was formed to probe the halt of prime minister's motorcade in the port city's Sholoshahar level crossing submitted its report yesterday accusing the two.

The committee in its report accused Stationmaster of Sholoshahar Railway Station Abul Hossain and Assistant Stationmaster Anwar Karim Sikder of their negligence of duty.

The railway authority initially had put Abul Hossain and Gate-man Abul Kashem on suspension but the committee report relived the gate-man of the charge, a committee member said.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia along with her entourage was going to the inaugural ceremony of a newly installed 83,300 digital line exchange at Nandankanon from Chittagong cantonment. Locals near Sholoshahar level crossing stopped her motorcade around 3:15pm seeing a Chittagong University shuttle train on its way.

The inquiry report stated though the railway authority informed Abul Hossain about the prime minister's visit but he was found neglecting his duty.

"The two railway officials have been charged for failing to ensure adequate support to the uninterrupted journey of the VVIPs," the committee report said.

The report recommended prior coordination between the railway authority and administration to avert similar incidents in future.

Shortly after the incident intelligence agencies quizzed at least five railway officials and employees trying to determine whether it was an act of sabotage.