The High Court has ordered the government to file an update detailing its measures to evict illegal and risky level crossing to prevent railroad accidents.
It has given the secretary to the local government ministry three months to submit a report.
On Sunday (Dec 15), the bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman gave the order and issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to evict all the illegal level crossing and structures in the level crossing areas.
The court came up with the order and rule following a petition filed, which was filed on Nov 23 by Supreme Court lawyer Syeda Shahin Ara Laily.
Citing reports from newspapers and BUET's Accident Research Institute (ARI), the petition said a total of 244 people died and 228 were injured in 235 rail related fatalities in 2018 as many of 1,412 level crossings of Bangladesh Railway have no designated gatemen and are vulnerable.
A total of 69 people died and 46 others were injured in 56 incidents in 10 months (March to December) of 2016 while 229 died and 156 injured in 211 incidents in 2017, but, the authorities have not taken necessary steps to prevent such accidents, it said.
Only 466 gates among 1,412 level crossings have gatekeepers while 946 gates have no designated man. Among 434 gates in Railway's East Zone, 245 have gatemen while only 221 out of 978 gates in West Zone have guards, according to the petitioner.
Of the 1,085 unauthorised level crossings, 811 are in East Zone while 274 in West Zone, it said.
The petition argues that the government is supposed to ensure railway security in order to save lives in line with Sections 13, 14 and 128 of the Bangladesh Railway Act 1980.