Cox’s Bazar Special Train’s loco-master, Jamal Uddin, has been temporarily suspended following the tragic incident where a 10-year-old female elephant was killed by a train in the Chunati Sanctuary area of Cox’s Bazar. The railway authorities issued the suspension order last Wednesday, along with a directive to limit train speeds to 20 km/h in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
The elephant was injured on the night of October 13, when a special train from Cox’s Bazar to Chittagong struck the animal near the protected Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary range in Lohagara, Chittagong. The elephant was crossing the rail line with a herd when it collided with the train, breaking its spine and severely injuring its back right leg. The animal also suffered head trauma, leading to severe bleeding from its ears and trunk. Despite being transported to Dullahazra Safari Park for treatment, the elephant succumbed to its injuries on October 15.
In response to the incident, Mohammad Nazmul Islam, General Manager of the Eastern Railway Division, confirmed the temporary suspension of Locomaster Jamal Uddin. He also announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the accident. The committee, chaired by the Divisional Transport Officer of Chittagong, includes members from the Divisional Engineer-1 and the Divisional Mechanical Engineer Loco, all based in Chittagong. The committee has been tasked with submitting a report within five working days.
The Ministry of Railways has also issued an order to reduce the speed of trains passing through wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to 20 km/h to protect wildlife. This order, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, highlights the need for precautionary measures, especially after the October 13 accident.
In addition to the railway inquiry, an expert committee has been formed to address the broader issue of elephant protection and human-elephant conflict, particularly in the Korean EPZ of Chittagong following the deaths of two local residents on October 21 and 21 under elephant attacks.
The committee includes wildlife experts from Jahangirnagar University, IUCN, and other conservation organizations. Their goal is to provide recommendations on improving elephant safety and mitigating conflicts in the region.
