Dhaka, April 16 -- Track Record: Ghosts at the Gate

Anatomy of a "death trap": Most level crossings remain unauthorised, unmonitored and structurally flawed. With only 20-25 percent properly staffed, safety depends largely on chance rather than system design.

Fragile human system: Informal absenteeism and weak oversight undermine operations. The Cumilla case exposed a "substitute" culture where official duties are informally reassigned, often leaving crossings unmanned.

Technological inertia: Bangladesh continues to rely on a human-centric model. Experts argue that diverting just 2 percent of railway investment to automation and signalling could prevent a large share of fatalities.

Governance gap: Coordination failures between railway...