Bangladesh Trial Report:

Bangladesh Railway has decided to operate three pairs of special trains to facilitate passenger travel during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. In addition, the weekly off-days of five trains will be cancelled, while 23 metre-gauge coaches will be added in the eastern region and six broad-gauge coaches in the western region to handle increased passenger demand.

The decisions were taken at a meeting on transport preparations for Durga Puja held at the conference room of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on Sunday (October 11).

The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Robiul Alam, Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping, and Railways. Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Road Transport and Highways Division and the Ministry of Railways, and Rajib Ahsan, State Minister for the Bridges Division and the Ministry of Shipping, attended the meeting, along with the relevant secretaries and heads of departments, commissioners of Dhaka and Gazipur metropolitan police, and leaders of transport owners’ and workers’ organisations.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Railways, Dhaka Special-3 will operate from Chattogram to Dhaka on October 20. Tourist Special-1 and Tourist Special-2 will run on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka route on October 20, 23 and 24. In addition, Chattogram Special-4 will operate from Dhaka to Chattogram on October 24.

To manage the increased passenger load, the weekly off-days of five trains have been cancelled. The off-days of Cox’s Bazar Express on October 19 and 20 have been cancelled on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route. The off-days of Jahanabad Express on the Dhaka–Khulna route and Ruposhi Bangla Express on the Dhaka–Benapole route have been cancelled for October 19. The weekly off-day of Padma Express on the Dhaka–Rajshahi route has been cancelled for October 20, while that of Madhumati Express on the same route has been cancelled for October 24.

To maintain punctuality and prevent schedule disruptions during Durga Puja, supervision by railway officials and inspectors will be strengthened at key junction stations and signal cabins. Special maintenance will be carried out on railway tracks, bridges, signalling systems, coaches and locomotives, while locomotives will be supplied according to demand. Rescue trains will also remain ready to respond to emergencies.

Security has been strengthened at major stations, including Dhaka, Airport, Joydebpur, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Khulna, with support from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB).

Magistrates will be deployed at Kamalapur and Airport railway stations on October 19 and 20. Surveillance will also be increased to prevent sabotage involving moving trains, railway stations and tracks.