Experts raise concerns over stone-throwing at moving trains in Sreemangal

Crimes and mischiefs involving moving trains like stone-pelting from outside, snatching through windows, and passenger harassment have increased in the country’s northeast in recent times.

To raise public awareness against the malaise, Bashundhara Shuvosangho's Sreemangal Upazila branch organized a campaign at the Sreemangal Railway Station platform on Monday afternoon.

On the occasion, awareness messages were shared with passengers, local residents, shopkeepers, and pedestrians. People living near railway tracks were especially urged not to engage in stone-throwing or any other whimsical and dangerous activities targeting trains and to immediately inform law enforcement authorities if they witness such incidents.

The organizers said that several passengers had recently been injured in stone-throwing incidents on moving trains in areas including Longla, Rashidpur, Shayestaganj, Harashpur, Azampur, and Brahmanbaria along the Sylhet–Akhaura railway section.

Even a small stone can claim a life or put the safety of hundreds of passengers at risk, warning that even a prank could amount to a serious crime. They emphasized that families, educational institutions, and local communities must work together to make children and teenagers aware of the dangers and consequences of such acts.

Ensuring safe rail travel requires not only law enforcement but also a strong sense of social responsibility among all, they said.

The chief guest was Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sreemangal Railway Police Station Md Jahangir Alam. Md Saiful Islam, adviser to the Bashundhara Shuvosangho Sreemangal Upazila branch and Moulvibazar district correspondent of Kaler Kantho, chaired the session.

Also present were: branch president Mohammad Al Amin, adviser and journalist MA Rakib, Cloth Merchants' Association’s Adviser Md Hafiz Ahmed, journalist Shafiqul Islam Rummon, policeman Sohag Ahmed, Railway Security Force Havildar Md Saifur Rahman, wildlife photographers Kajol Hazra and Tapan Baidya.