A 32 year old man was killed instantly after being struck by a high speed passenger train in eastern Bangladesh on Sunday morning, authorities confirmed. The victim, Mohi Uddin, had stepped onto the busy Dhaka Chittagong railway line in Comilla moments before the fatal collision.
Police said the tuk tuk driver was hit at approximately 7.45 am while on the tracks near Bagmara market. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The train was reportedly bound for Dhaka at the time of the incident.
Witnesses told local media outlets including JagoNews24 that Uddin had been standing on the railway line to take a selfie shortly before he was struck. According to The Daily Inqilab, other witnesses reported seeing him talking on his mobile phone moments before the impact, a detail later confirmed by police.
The Dhaka Chittagong rail corridor is one of Bangladesh’s busiest transportation routes, carrying thousands of passengers daily between the capital and the country’s main port city. High speed intercity services frequently pass through smaller stations and open track sections, often with little margin for pedestrian error.
Railway authorities have repeatedly warned residents against trespassing on active tracks, particularly in densely populated areas where informal crossings are common. Fatalities linked to distraction and mobile phone use have remained a persistent safety concern in parts of the country.
The incident occurred near Bagmara market in Comilla, a commercial area where railway lines run close to residential and trading zones. According to investigators, Uddin had entered the track area shortly before the train approached.
A spokesperson for Laksham police said the victim was sitting on the railway line and talking on his mobile phone when he was hit by a moving train. His body was later transported to his village home.
Authorities believe the train involved may have been the Upakul Express, which departed Noakhali and passed through Laksham railway station at around 7.30 am. The exact identification of the train remains part of the ongoing review.
Police indicated that further action would depend on whether the victim’s family files a formal complaint, though there were no immediate signs of foul play.
Investigators say the sequence of events unfolded rapidly. Witnesses reported seeing Uddin on the tracks shortly before the train arrived. With high speed services operating on fixed schedules, the train would have had limited ability to brake in time to prevent the collision.
He was killed instantly on impact, underscoring the dangers posed by even brief intrusions onto active railway lines.
As smartphone use has expanded across Bangladesh, authorities have increasingly highlighted the risks of distraction in high traffic environments. Public awareness campaigns have sought to discourage risky behavior near railway corridors, but enforcement remains challenging in busy urban markets and informal crossing points.
Sunday’s fatality adds to growing concerns about rail safety compliance in populated areas along major intercity routes.
Police confirmed that the deceased had posted on social media shortly before the incident, though investigators have not provided further details about the timing or content of the post.
Officials said the matter remains under routine review, with no criminal investigation currently underway unless requested by the family.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by high speed rail traffic in densely populated corridors. As Bangladesh continues to expand and modernize its rail network, safety enforcement and public awareness are likely to come under renewed scrutiny following the fatal incident in Comilla.
