Around 40,000 litres spilt into a canal after a freight train carrying diesel from Patenga derailed at Chittagong Goods Port Yard (CGPY) in Halishahar area of Chittagong on Wednesday.
It is feared that the spillage will pose a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem in the canal.
Three tank wagons derailed around 7:00pm, confiemed Abdul Malek, master of the CGPY, adding, "It will take some day to assess the extent of damage caused by the derailment".
Mohammed Yeasin, officer-in-charge of Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) CGPY outpost, said that a rescue team reached the area and was working to remove the wagons.
The train was coming to the yard after loading diesel from a depot in Patenga. The incident occurred while the train was entering the yard, he added.
"The cause behind the train derailment was not immediately known. We will form a committee to investigate this incident," said Tarek Bin Imran, divisional traffic officer of Bangladesh Railway (Chittagong Division).