Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Thursday said it is initially believed that the cargo train's disregard to the red light caused the accident at Kishoreganj's Bhairab, leaving 17 people dead and 26 others injured.
The minister said this while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of the Rail Bhaban.
“I was in Malaysia at the time of the accident to participate in the First Asia Pacific Rail Summit. Due to the accident, I shortened the trip and returned to Bangladesh on Wednesday," he said, adding that he expressed his deep shock at the loss of lives.
The minister said his ministry will provide Tk 1 lakh to the families of each dead person while they will bear the medical expenses of the injured persons. Financial assistance will be provided as much as possible to the injured, he said, adding that such loss could never be compensated with money.
Mentioning that three probe committees have already been formed to find out the cause of the accident, the minister said, “A committee has been formed from the ministry, another formed at the divisional level and a third one has been formed from the regional office.”
After receiving the investigation report, the exact cause of the accident will be known and action will be taken accordingly, he added.
The minister later met the injured people at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Pangu Hospital and the National Institute of Ophthalmology and enquired about their health and gave financial assistance to each patient.
