Bangladesh, Aug. 20 -- Mahiuddin, a resident of Maijdee, was sitting by the window on the Upakul Express bound for Noakhali when a deafening crash shattered the glass beside him.

A stone had come hurtling through as the train passed Cumilla's Rajapur Railway Station, striking him in the head and leaving him slumped in his seat.

Panic swept through the coach. Railway staff rushed to stem the bleeding, and the businessman, in his 50s, was admitted to hospital on reaching Noakhali.

He had never faced anything so terrifying in his life, the victim, said. "The moment the train crossed the station, I felt a sudden, violent blow to my head and collapsed.

"At first, I couldn't tell what had happened. Then I saw blood streaming down my head, ...