Returning home with grief

Some commuters were on their way to work, some were visiting their loved ones, and some were just travelling. But 16 of the many passengers who boarded the Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express and Udayan Express never reached their destinations.

The 16 bodies now lie in front of their loved ones who can only shed tears to grieve for the lives lost in early Tuesday's tragic accident at Mandabagh Railway Station in Brahmanbaria.

The bodies were handed over to their families on November 12 by the district administration.

Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, additional deputy commissioner of Brahmanbaria, confirmed the matter.

All 16 victims have been identified.

They are: Jaheda Khatun, 30, of Moulvibazar; Mujibur Rahman, 55, and his wife Kulsuma Begum, 40, of Chandpur; Kakoli Akhter, 32, of Haimchar; Amatun Begum, 41, and her daughter  Marium, 4, of Shariatpur; Farzana Akhter, 15, of Uttar Balia of Chandpur; Yeasin Arafat, 12, of Bolla sadar of Habiganj; Sujon Ahmed, 24, of Chunarughat upazila of Tirergaon; Peara Begum, 32, of Ahmedabad; Ripon, 45, of Habiganj sadar; Al Amin, 30, of Baniachong upazila; Adiba, 2, daughter of Sohel Rana of Borobazar; Ali Mohammad Yusuf, 32, of Anwarpur of Habiganj; Chowamoni, 3, of Baniachong and Robi Harijan, 23, of Noakhali Sadar.

Mandabagh Railway Station Master Zakir Hossain Chowdhury said the accident occurred when the driver of Turna Nishita entered the station ignoring the outer and home signals to stay outside the main line and hit the last three bogies of Udayan Express.