Police in Comilla have arrested two individuals in connection with the train and bus collision that killed 12 people at the Paduar Bazar rail crossing on March 21. The arrests include main suspect Helal Uddin, detained Tuesday night, and temporary gatekeeper Kawsar, detained Wednesday night in Bijoypur under Sadar Dakshin upazila. Police claim both were involved in negligence that led to the crash.

According to investigators, Helal Uddin and Mehedi Hasan, who were assigned to duty on the night of the accident, had arranged for Kawsar and Nazmul to replace them for a payment of one thousand taka. The substitute gatekeepers reportedly failed to close the gate before the Dhaka Mail train arrived around 2:45 a.m. Police are also examining possible drug-related activities at the gatehouse and whether proper signals were received from the previous station.

Authorities have suspended the two on-duty railway employees and formed three investigation committees. Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest Mehedi Hasan, who remains at large.