3 friends killed hit by train in Mirsarai : Marufa widowed after 17 days of marriage
Anwar ul Haq Nizami, Mirsarai (Chattogram)
Like a bolt from the blue, Marufa’s life has been shattered. She became a widow just 17 days after her marriage due to a train accident.
Anisur Rahman, son of Abu Taher from Madhyam Sonapahar village in Jorarganj Union No. 3, Mirsarai Upazila, married Marufa Khatun from Gopalpur, Tangailn on June 3. As it was a love marriage, Anis initially did not bring his bride home and instead rented a house in Mithachhara, Mirsarai.
Anisur Rahman, son of Abu Taher from Madhyam Sonapahar village in Jorarganj Union No. 3, Mirsarai Upazila, married Marufa Khatun from Gopalpur, Tangailn on June 3. As it was a love marriage, Anis initially did not bring his bride home and instead rented a house in Mithachhara, Mirsarai.
Five days ago, he brought Marufa to his family home with a small ceremony. Anis’s family joyfully welcomed the new bride on June 15. Anis worked as a driver for a contractor at the nearby BSRM factory. On Friday night at 8 p.m., he, along with three friends, was walking along the railway tracks to collect pending wages from the contractor night at 8 p.m on Friday
A train coming from the opposite direction struck them, killing three friends on the spot. By sheer luck, one friend, Raihan, survived by jumping out of the way. Abu Taher, Anis’s father, is devastated, having lost the family’s sole breadwinner. The three friends lived in three adjacent hills in Madhyam Sonapahar, Jorarganj Union. Many residents of this area work at the local BSRM factory through contractors.
Anis’s sister, Airin Sultana Poppy, said, “ Anis came home, left his mobile phone, and went with his friends to collect dues, walking along the railway tracks. A train hit them from behind at night on Thursday. One friend jumped to safety, but Anis, Riyaz, and Arafat were struck. The train was supposed to be on the up line , but it came on the down line , causing the accident.”
Riyaz’s father, Ziaur Rahman, said, “My only son, Riyaz, came home Thursday night, plugged in his phone to charge, and went with friends to collect dues, walking along the railway tracks. A train on the down line hit them, and he died on the spot.”
It was learned that a culvert on the railway tracks in the Bartakia area was damaged due to heavy rain and hill runoff. Repair work was ongoing, so trains were operating on a single line (down line) since Thursday afternoon, meaning even Dhaka-bound trains were using the Chattogram-bound track.
Arafat Hossain (18), another victim, lost his mother 16 years ago. After his sister’s death, his uncle Jamal Uddin brought Arafat to live with them, where he grew up. Arafat worked at the BSRM factory through a contractor. On Thursday night, he, too, went with his two friends to collect pending wages but was killed in the train accidentn at night.on Thursday
When contacted, Chattogram Railway Station Master Abu Jafar said, “Heavy rain and hill runoff damaged a culvert in the Khaiyachhara area of Bartakia. To avoid accidents, trains in Mirsarai were operating on a single line (down line) on Thursday. Illegal presence of people on railway tracks is increasing such accidents.”
Sitakunda Railway Police Statioon OC Ashraf Siddique confirmed the incident said, three of the four friends walking on the tracks were killed when a train hit them. An unnatural death case has been filed
