Four passengers were killed as Dhaka bound passenger laden train Upaban Express fell from a bridge after breaking it at Kulaura in Moulvibazar. In the accident over one hundred people were also injured. Of the deceased there are three male and one female. Rail communication between Sylhet and other parts of the country has been snapped after 11 pm Sunday. Bangladesh railway said the line repair work after salvaging the derailed train is time consuming. Railway was the lone dependable source of communication of Sylhet region as Shahbazpur bridge on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway collapsed some days ago. Now rail communication is snapped as the Upaban Express fell in accident at Baramchal in Moulvibazar near the Barachhara bridge. The passengers said the train was overcrowded. In the accident four bogies fell from the bridge and another two bogies overturned. More two bogies were also derailed. More than hundred people were injured in the accident and of them three male and one female passengers died. The bodies of the deceased were kept at Kulaura Health Complex. Of the injured people condition of 18 are critical. They were admitted in Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.   After the accident local people, fire service, RAB, police and BGB began their rescue operation immediately. AH  

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) awarded death penalty for four Rajakars of Moulvibazar in connection with the case of crimes against humanity. A three member tribunal led by ICT Chairman Justice Md. Shahinur Islam delivered the verdict on Tuesday. Justice Shahinur Islam read the key part of the verdict. Justice Abu Ahmed Jamadar read the first part of the 160-paper verdict while the second part was read by Justice Amir Hossain. The death penalty awarded convicts are- former madrassa teacher of Rajnagar upazila Akmal Ali Talukdar, Abdun Nur Talukdar alias Lal Mia, Anis Mia and Abdul Mosabbir Mia. Of them, Akmal Ali is in jail and others remain absconding. After placing arguments it was under curia advisari vult (CAV) on March 27. In this continuation the verdict was delivered on Tuesday. After charging indictment on May 7, last year, the tribunal began formal trial of the case. There was allegation of killing 59 persons, raping 6, looting and arson attack into 81 houses against the accused in the case. Of the 13 eyewitnesses 5 were affected by the accused during the liberation war. Of them 3 were victims of rape. Syed Haidar Ali took part in the hearing on behalf of the prosecution. Sheikh Mushfique Kabir and Sayedul Haque Suman accompanied him. Lawyer Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar stood for the accused Akmal. State appointed lawyer Abul Hasan took part in the hearing for the absconding accused. It was the 33rd verdict after beginning of the war crimes trial after formation of ICT in 2010. AH    

At least six people including four of a family were killed while three others injured in a head-on collision between a car and an auto-rickshaw on Moulvibazar-Sylhet regional highway at Nadampur in Moulvibazar sadar upazila on Saturday evening. The deceased were identified as Jahangir Talukder (38), son of Abdul Goni of Sherpur village of Moulvibazar Sadar, Sajna Begum (28), Nahid (26), Saif Ahmed (12), son of Moshahed Mia of Khalishpur village, Layes Mia ( 30) of Tajpur village and Shahadat Talukder, son of Jaton Talukder of Karimpur village. Reports UNB. According to locals, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw carrying the four family members and a private car collided head-on around 7pm leaving six people dead on the spot. The injured are Yeasmin Begum, Nurun Nahar, Nurjahan and Mostaq Ahmed. Being informed, police and fire service rushed to the spot and took an injured one to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. AH

Areas under Moulvibazar district such as Baroikona, Sirampur, Kochar Mohol, Ghoroya, Hilalpur and Jugidor including municipal areas Borohat, Darok were inundated as the protection dyke over the river Monu collapsed. Most of the areas from Shahbondor to Kusumbag petrol pump were inundated. Flood water entered into the homes and people took shelter in higher places. Army, police, fire service and local administration are working on to control the situation. But the Water Development Board said that there is less possibility of flood in the main portion of the town. The Monu protection embankment collapsed at Baroikona point of the town at around 2 am on Saturday. Flood water entered in the adjacent areas sharply. Meanwhile, in the river erosion affected areas army, police, fire service and local administration staffs were working on to face the flood situation. Being panicked the inhabitants were taking away their belongings to the safer places. Electricity supply was remained cut off from the areas. Moulvibazar Water Development Board Executive Engineer Ranendra Shankar Chakraborty said, the collapse created in different parts of the embankment after cracks. We including army personnel tried to prevent the flow of water by putting sacks but failed as the force was severe. But the water that at present entering into the area may not be inundated the main town.   AH