Are deaths at level crossings mere numbers?

A few days ago, Bangladesh once again witnessed an accident at a level-crossing of Sitakunda in Chattogram apparently in the absence of a gatekeeper.

A great number of lives are being perished on the level crossings in the country every year, yet the Bangladesh Railway authorities have failed to stop these avoidable deaths.

Now the country is struggling to man the nearly three thousand gates at level crossings. But the lack of manpower alone is not responsible for deaths.

Negligence to duty by gatekeepers, wrong signaling and people’s general lack of personal safety are also to blame for these unwanted deaths.

However, the government in last May gave a job circular for appointing over 1,500 gatekeepers under a project, but the process seemingly stalled due to unavailability of the fund.

The point here is the government should have initiated its own fund in this public transportation sector long before another accident at another level-crossing takes place.

Some pertinent questions that arise must not be missed. Why didn’t the Bangladesh Railway authorities wake up to the series of accidents in the level crossings across the country since 1971?

Is it because the deaths of commoners as well as the cops or the law enforcers are merely numbers to the Railway authorities?

How could a gateman dare to neglect his job in such a dangerous place?

While answers to these questions must be found out, the fact is the government is shamelessly failing to secure the country’s legal and illegal 3,111 level crossings by appointing gatemen there.

Gatemen’s job is not costly; lives that perish on level crossings are indeed costly.

It is bewildering to note that 40 percent of the railway crossings in the paltry 3,093 kilometres of railway lines in Bangladesh are illegal.

We urge the authorities concerned to employ gatekeepers to the unmanned level-crossing gates immediately managing funds.

This is crucial. On top of all, the negligent gatekeepers should be given exemplary punishment for the deaths and damage to public properties like trains.

Still, Bangladesh Railway inspectors must regularly inspect the gates and gatekeepers so that rail crossings remain safe.