Rail service to and from Dhaka to the rest of the country was halted for more than five hours, except on the Narayanganj line.
The accident occurred in Tongi’s Notunbazar area around 12:15pm yesterday, said Joydepur Railway outpost in-charge Raqibul Islam.
The last four carriages of the train derailed and were dragged along for some distance due to the speed of the train, he said. Two of the carriages overturned onto another rail line, he said.
Three passengers died on the spot and several others were injured, said Kamlapur Railway police station in-charge Md Yaseen.
The line was closed after the accident, cutting off rail service from Dhaka to Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and via the Bangabandhu Bridge to the north and south, he said.
Seven victims were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Md Shahadat, 38, was announced dead, said DMCH medical outpost police in-charge Babul Mia. The six others admitted to the hospital.
The fire service recovered the three bodies and have handed them over to police. Their identities have yet to be confirmed.
The railway ministry has formed a three-member probe to investigate the cause of the accident.
