Symbolic image.
Staff Reporter, Gaibandha/

There are two trains ‘Inter-nagar Lalmoni Express’ and ‘Inter-nagar Rangpur Express’ for direct rail communication from Gaibandha to Dhaka. Two trains run over this district six days a week. But despite the passenger pressure, the number of trains has not increased even in a long and a half century. Apart from this, there is no special train on Eid. However, the authorities said that two additional coaches (coaches) are planned to be added to the ‘Inter-nagar Lalmony Express’ and ‘Inter-nagar Rangpur Express’ trains of this route in the coming Eid.
According to sources, out of 593 seats in the inter-city ‘Lalmoney Express’ train, 166 seats are allocated for three stations including Gaibandha railway station. Out of which 87 seats are in Gaibandha railway station, 40 in Bonarpara and 39 in Bamondanga. Besides, out of 940 seats of the ‘Inter-City Rangpur Express’ train, the number of seats allocated for three stations including Gaibandha railway station is 141. Out of which 67 seats are in Gaibandha railway station, 40 in Bonarpara and 34 in Bamondanga.
To the chagrin of Gaibandha’s conscious community, commuters and locals, a train passed through this district in 2004 and another train in 2011, a century and a half ago. After a long era, no new train was given on this route nor the number of seats for Gaibandha was increased. To increase the quality of service, they demanded that more trains should be added on this route and special trains should be started for the people of Gaibandha during the upcoming Eid Yatra.

Advocate Sirajul Islam Babu, convenor of Gaibandha Nagarik Manch lamented that we as people of Gaibandha district town are victims of extreme neglect. Against the introduction of new trains on this route, two inter-section trains named Ramsagar and Local 481 have been stopped due to unjustified reasons. Thousands of poor people of this district come home every year on Eid. Many a times they lost their lives while coming in covered vans or freight cars without getting a chance in the bus-train. Considering the passenger numbers of Gaibandha, a neglected town in the northern region, increasing the number of seats and introducing special trains is very important here. This is our fair demand.
Abul Kashem, station master of Gaibandha railway station, said that 87 seats have been allocated for Gaibandha and 67 seats for Rangpur Express in the inter-city Lalmoni Express train in Dhaka connection, which is insufficient compared to the requirement. Every day about 300 buses ply from Gaibandha to different parts of the country including Dhaka. In that sense, considering the number of passengers of Gaibandha trains, not only these two, but at least four more trains are required. If four to five more trains are added on this route from Dhaka, it will be possible to meet the demand of train passengers in this region.

Station master of Lalmonirhat railway station. Nurunnabi Islam said on the phone, two more coaches (coaches) are supposed to be connected with the ‘Lalmoney Express’ train on the occasion of upcoming Eid. But the matter has not been confirmed yet. According to the demand of passengers and traders of Lalmonirhat, one more night train should be run on this route. In that case, a train called ‘Tin Bigha Corridor’ is supposed to be started. If it is launched, the railway service of the people of this region will be improved.

Shankar Ganguly, station master of Rangpur railway station, said on the phone that there is no possibility of providing any new train to Rangpur on Eid. However, keeping in mind the pressure of passengers during the upcoming Eid, two additional compartments may be added to the 14-coach 840-seat ‘Rangpur Express’ train. In response to a question at this time, he said that along with the increase in the quality of rail services, the number of passengers on this route is also increasing. If one more train is provided on this route, it will be possible to meet the demand of passengers.

When asked about these issues, Railway General Manager (Western, Rajshahi) Washim Kumar said over the phone, considering the passenger demand, it is necessary to increase the number of trains on that route, but our capacity is low. At present no new train is being provided on that route. However, two coaches (coaches) each in Lalmoni and Rangpur Express are supposed to be attached on Eid.