Rangpur, Sept. 29 -- A severe shortage of manpower and essential raw materials has sharply reduced repair and production activities at the country's largest railway workshop at Saidpur in Nilphamari districr, raising concerns over the safety and reliability of train services in Bangladesh's western region.

The workshop is struggling to carry out scheduled maintenance, according to railway officials and workers.

A recent incident in Akkelpur of Joypurhat showed the concern when a coach of the intercity Barendra Express, bound for Nilphamari's Chilahati from Rajshahi, derailed after one of its springs broke.

Railway officials and workers said such mechanical problems have become frequent on trains operating in the western region, with th...