Sylhet Rail Links Severed after Fuel Train Derails in Habiganj

Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country remains suspended following the derailment of a fuel-laden train in Habiganj on Wednesday night. 

The incident occurred around 9:45 pm near Mantala Railway Station in Madhabpur upazila as the Chattogram-bound train, traveling from Sylhet, veered off the tracks. 

One of the wagons reportedly plunged into a roadside ditch, though officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in the accident.

As of 8 am Thursday, recovery efforts were still underway, with only two of the derailed wagons salvaged so far. Mantala Railway Station Master Ataur Rahman Khadem stated that it remains unclear when rail services will fully resume. 

Witnesses at the scene described hearing a loud noise during the derailment, which quickly drew a large crowd to the area. 

In the immediate aftermath, some locals attempted to siphon fuel from the overturned wagons; however, law enforcement agencies, including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), intervened to secure the site and prevent further theft.

Lt. Col. Tanzilur Rahman, commander of the BGB’s 55th Battalion in Habiganj, confirmed on Thursday morning that their prompt response successfully halted the looting attempts. 

He noted that nearly 1,000 liters of oil have been recovered thus far with the assistance of Fire Service personnel. 

The ongoing suspension of services has severely disrupted both passenger and freight movement on the vital Sylhet-Dhaka and Sylhet-Chattogram routes, leading to significant delays and inconvenience for thousands of commuters.

With Inputs from UNB