MR Amin, Chittagong

The tourism industry is the driving force behind the economy of many countries around the world.

The world's largest beach is in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Every year millions of tourists visit the beautiful Cox's Bazar beach, but many do not go to Cox's Bazar due to the inconvenience of transportation. Rail connectivity will increase the interest of travel enthusiasts. For that reason, air and road as well as rail communication network has been developed to facilitate the travel of tourists from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar.

Railway authorities have reduced the speed of trains to 20 kilometers per hour (km) to protect wildlife and biodiversity. Such a decision has been taken for the 3 protected areas of Chunti, Phansiakhali and Medhakachpia of Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway. Recently, after an elephant was hit by a train and died while undergoing treatment, there was a lot of discussion about the issue. In view of this, such a decision has been taken in the light of a recommendation sent from the Ministry of Environment and Climate to the Ministry of Railways, the concerned said.

It is known that it takes 3 hours and 10 minutes to go from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar by 151 km railway. And reduce the speed to 20 km. As a result, it now takes 3 and a half hours. If this continues, there is a need to change the schedule of trains in the eastern region. However, authorities say the speed limit is 40 kmph. If done, it is possible to solve the problem without changing the schedule.

Chief Operating Superintendent (COPS) of Bangladesh Railway Eastern Region. Shahidul Islam said that on the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, the speed of protection of wildlife and biodiversity has been reduced.

Chunti, Fansiakhali and Medhakachpia areas of Chittagong Cox's Bazar route were reserved forest areas. It is still considered as a wildlife sanctuary. 3 spots from 72 km to 113 have a total of 9 km at risk.

It is said to keep the maximum speed of 20 km at this (km) placeHowever, at present, the investigation is going on even if it runs 20 km. We are trying without changing the schedule if the speed can be increased to 40 km then there will be no problem with the schedule. Animals can also be safe. It will be possible to save the elephant from the accident even if it is moving at a speed of 40 km. A team of the ministry is working on the matter. It will be run as is best for both.

PD Md. Dohazari Cox's Bazar Railway Project. Subaktgin said an investigation team from the Ministry of Wildlife Protection and Train Speeding visited on Monday (November 4). I was also with We will take action in the light of the recommendations of the inquiry committee and as per the further decision of the ministry.

It is to be noted that a female elephant aged 8-10 years was seriously injured after being hit by a local train from Cox's Bazar to Chittagong in Trainage 28+160 area adjacent to Chunti Range Office at around 8:30 pm on October 13.

According to witnesses, the speed of the train was 70-80 kmph at the time of the accident. Immediately, the forest staff along with the veterinary surgeon of the Forest Department provided first aid to the elephant with the help of local volunteers.

Later, the elephant was rescued and taken to Cox's Bazar Safari Park for medical treatment and died on October 15 while undergoing treatment.

In view of this, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, wrote a letter to the railway advisor on October 23 to take necessary measures.

According to the letter, the expert medical team said that the elephant suffered heavy bleeding and died of hypovolemic shock after being hit by a high-speed train. As the Chunti Wildlife Sanctuary is an elephant range, the railway is supposed to limit the speed limit and blow the whistle, but instead of blowing the whistle, the train driver drove the train at high speed and hit the elephant before it derailed.

In order to implement the project entitled "Construction of single line dual gauge track from Dohazari to Ramu to Karabazar and from Ramu to Ghumdhum near Myanmar", the conditions 3 and 4 of the 4 conditions given by this ministry for the permission to declare a total of 207,1375 acres of protected forest land as de-reserve were that, "All wildlife including wild elephantsConstruction of international standard overpasses/underpasses should be ensured for safe movement" and "sound barriers should be constructed in the respective sections so that the wild life in the forest area is not disturbed by the noise of trains"