Cumilla Correspondent

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested another suspect in a case over the bus and train collision in Cumilla that killed 12 people.

He was arrested from the Rajendrapur area of the Gazipur district on Wednesday, said Laksam Railway Police Station chief (OC) Jasimuddin.

Arrestee Nazmul hails from Chauddagram in Comilla.

Although he is a permanent gateman for the railway, he was not on duty that day. It has been alleged that he had been paid to take on duties that day at the Paduar Bazar rail crossing.

Around 3am on Saturday, Eid-ul-Fitr, a Mamun Special Paribahan bus from Chuadanga’s Lakshmipur drove onto the rail crossing and was struck by the Dhaka mail train from Chattogram. After the collision, the train dragged the bus along for about a kilometre. Twelve people were killed and eight others injured.

Helal Uddin and Mehedi Hasan, two railway gatemen in the Paduar Bazar area, were dismissed following the accident.

Later, on Monday, injured bus passenger Shefali Akhter filed a case with Laksam Railway Police Station against the two former railway employees. Shefali is the aunt of Sohel Rana, who died in the accident, and lives in Laksam.

Shefali Akhter filed the case under The Penal Code's Section 304 A, death due to negligence in duty.

On Tuesday evening, RAB conducted a drive and arrested Helal, the prime suspect, from the Shashidal area of Cumilla.

Citing information obtained during the initial interrogation of the accused, OC Jasimuddin said, “On Eid, gatemen Helal and Mehedi, who were in charge of the gate, did not perform their duties. They instead paid temporary gateman Kawsar and permanent gateman Nazmul as replacements in exchange for Tk 1,000. They were not on duty that day.

“Although Kawsar and Nazmul were in the gateman’s room at Paduar Bazar level crossing that night, they did not close the gate before the Dhaka Mail train arrived at 2:45am. However, an investigation is underway to find out why they did not do so.”

Jasimuddin claims that the gate room of the Paduar Bazar Railway Level Crossing is also being investigated for drug involvement.

Railway Police arrested Kawsar Alam, 20, from Bijoypur in the Sadar South Upazila on Wednesday in connection with the accident. Kawsar hails from the Dinajpur district. The police claim that his involvement was found during the investigation.

Mehedi Hasan, another suspect, is still absconding. Helal has been sent to jail by a court.

OC Jasimuddin said whether the gatemen received the signal from the previous station is also being investigated.