Bangladesh Railway
Padma Bridge rail link: Goods train reaches Mawa station in Faridpur on trial
A freight train of Bangladesh Railway successfully completed a test run from Faridpur’s Bhanga station crossing the Padma Bridge on Saturday (September 16, 2023).
The goods train left Bhanga station at 7:40 am and reached the Mawa Station via Padma Bridge and again returned to Bhanga Station, said Project director of Faridpur Rail Project, Brig: General Syed Ahmed.“ Five bogies carried 350 metric tonnes of stone during the trial run and the speed limit was 80 kilometers per hour,” he said.
Locals block Hili rail track demanding restoration of stopover of all trainsPresident of Faridpur Chamber of Commerce Nazrul Islam said people will be able to transport their goods using the train service at a low cost.Earlier, the test run of a passenger train from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station to Faridpur’s Bhanga Station was successfully completed on September 7.
Test run: Train reaches Faridpur’s Bhanga from Dhaka via Padma BridgePrime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the rail link on October 10.
Test run: Train reaches Faridpur’s Bhanga from Dhaka via Padma Bridge
A special train of Bangladesh Railway successfully completed a test run from Dhaka to Bhanga station in Faridpur crossing the Padma Bridge via Mawa on Thursday.
This test run marks a significant step in preparation for the grand opening scheduled for next month.
Read: Dhaka-Bhanga railway track via Padma bridge all set for trial run on Thursday
The trial train took two hours and 10 minutes to cross the 82-km-long railway line.
The train left Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station at 10:07am and crossed the Padma Bridge at 11:34 am. The special train reached Bhanga station at 12:17pm.
The trial train was operated by locomaster Enamul Haque and assistant locomaster MA Hossain.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan was among the passengers of the test train.
Read: Elevated expressway marks first of 9 megaprojects to be inaugurated before election
Deputy Minister for Water Resources Enamul Haque Shamim, Awami League Presidium Member Shajahan Khan, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, Railway Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Kamrul Ahsan, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project Director Afzal Hossain, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Railways and senior railway officials were present.
Read: ICC World Cup Trophy travels to Padma Bridge
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said Prime Minister will inaugurate the Padma Bridge rail link project on October 10.
Dhaka’s rail link with other parts of country restored after about 5 hrs
Rail communication between Dhaka and other parts of the country resumed on Sunday afternoon after nearly five hours of suspension due to blockade on rail tracks by a section of temporary workers of the Bangladesh Railway.
Earlier, in the day, the temporary workers of Bangladesh Railway obstructed the rail track in the capital’s Malibagh area, demanding that their jobs be made permanent, halting train communication between Dhaka and the rest of the country, said Ferdous Ahmed Biswas, officer-in-charge of Kamalapur Railway Police Station.
Read: British-era Alamdanga railway station lies uncared for
The workers started demonstrations on the rail track since 10 am.
Meanwhile, the blockade was withdrawn after four and half an hours around 2:30 pm, said Ferdous Ahmed Bishwas, Officer-in-Charge of Kamalapur Railway Police Station.
Read: Dhaka’s rail link with other parts restored after 5 hrs as railway workers withdraw blockade
Contacted, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan told UNB that there is no possibility of making their jobs permanent as they work on the basis of daily wage.
Terming the workers’ demand “illogical,” the minister said he would recommend recruiting the workers once recruitment is done through outsourcing.
Kalurghat Bridge closed for 3 months for renovation
Rail and road communication via Kalurghat Bridge, the century-old bridge over the Karnaphuli River, have been suspended for three months to get some much-needed renovation work done.
The authorities concerned of Bangladesh Railway said the movements of vehicles and trains through the bridge were suspended from Wednesday. After that the railway authorities will inaugurate it with the movement of the Cox’s Bazar-bound train, said Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Railway (East) Abu Zafar Mia.
Padma bridge project cost increased further by Tk 1,117 crore
Rail communication on the Chattogram-Dohazari route will also remain suspended until the reopening of the Kalurghat bridge, said Abu Zafar.
Already the authorities concerned of the Roads and Highways Division have launched a ferry service under the bridge to ensure smooth crossing of vehicles. Two ferries will operate under the bridge while one will remain on standby.
Bangladesh Railway appointed a contractor for the renovation work of the bridge, involving Tk 55 crore.
Padma Bridge loan: Bridges Division pays 316.02 crore as 2nd two installments
The authorities concerned also fixed the tolls for ferrying vehicles: Tk 5 for ferrying rickshaw, van, bicycle and cart, Tk 10 for motorbike, Tk 25 for three-wheeler vehicles, Tk 55 for private cars, Tk 90 for microbus and pickup, Tk 115 for minibus, Tk 135 for vehicles used in agriculture sector, Tk 170 for small truck, Tk 205 for bus, Tk 225 for truck, Tk 450 for heavy truck and Tk 565 for trailer.
The bridge was the only means for ten lakh people in Boalkhali upazila to get to Patiya east zone, Rangunia south zone, Chandgaon and Mohora area of the city.
Railway suspends 3 employees over Cumilla train collision, salvage work continues
Bangladesh Railway has suspended thee of its employees over Sunday’s collision between Sonar Bangla Express train and a freight train that left 35 people injured.
They are Abdul Quader, a guard (Chattogram division) ; Jasim Uddin, locomotive master (Dhaka headquarter); and Md Mohsin, assistant locomotive master (Dhaka headquarter).
Wahid, who was in charge of maintaining Hasanpur station signal, was also suspended.
Also Read: Two trains collide at Hasanpur Station in Cumilla; at least 20 injured
A four-member probe body was formed which was asked to submit the report within three working days.
Meanwhile, the train movement resumed after 9 pm on Sunday after two salvage trains removed the bogies from the main lines, train examiner SM Akhtar Hossain and Station Master of Hasanpur Railway Station Mong Marma said.
Work to remove the other bogies is underway, they said.
Six bogies and the locomotive of Sonar Bangla Express train derailed on Sunday injuring at least 35 passengers and six of them are in critical condition.
Several of the injured are being treated at Nangalkot Health Complex.
Officer-in-charge of Laksham Railway Police Station Jashim Uddin said, the Dhaka bound freight train was stationed in a line on the Hasanpur station.
Dhaka- bound Sonar Bangla Express from Chattagram wrongly entered the same line and hit the rear side of the freight train at around 6:22 pm.
Shohoz says issued 1 crore train tickets in 4 months
The Bangladesh Railway's online ticketing partner Shohoz-Synesis-Vincen-JV has claimed to have issued around 1 crore train tickets in the last four months.
The ticket service provider issued 80,000 to 1 lakh tickets online and over the counters on average daily, according to a media statement.
Shohoz started issuing train tickets on March 25 this year at 77 stations by counter panel software following its contract with the Railway.
Read: Shohoz files writ with HC challenging legality of Tk 2 lakh fine
Despite allegations of scams in online ticketing, Shohoz claimed to have issued more than 16 lakh tickets during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
The vendor signed an agreement with the authority on February 15 to operate the ticketing system of the Railway.
In 1994, a computer-based ticketing system was introduced in the Railway. At that time, only 27 stations used to issue tickets through the system, but now, 81 stations use it.
HC: Bangladesh Railway gets 7 days more to submit report on mismanagement
The High Court has granted seven more days to Bangladesh Railway to submit a report on mismanagement including black marketing of tickets, carrying passengers on roof etc.
Bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder asn Justice Khizir Hayat Khan passed the order on Sunday after the rail authority appealed seeking extension of time.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing.
The court has asked to submit the compliance report by Sunday after extending the time, said the DAG.
On July 21, the HC bench asked the railway authorities to submit an action taken report by July 31 on its order to stop traveling on train tops and black-marketing of train tickets.
Read: Rail mismanagement: Roni suspends movement
Earlier, the court also wanted to know the stance of Dhaka University (DU) student Mohiuddin Roni’s protest about his six-point demand as he staged demonstrations at Kamalapur station from July 7-18 against Bangladesh Railways mismanagement.
The High Court also wanted to know what steps the Anti-Corruption Commission took after Rony’s protest against corruption in the country's railway sector.
Following the court's order, the railway authorities said that a probe body was formed to look into the allegations.
A letter of the probe body was also submitted to the court by Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin.
Read: BNP blames AL’s internal feud for Narail communal violence
Roni, from July 7, has been demanding the implementation of his six-point demand after being deceived by SOHOZ.com while buying a train ticket to go home during the vacation of Eid-Ul-Azha.
However, when he alleged this deception to the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), they investigated it and fined SOHOZ.com an amount of TK. two lakh of which Roni was given Tk 50,000 on July 20.
On July 25, Roni suspended his movement after a meeting with the high officials of Bangladesh Railway including the Railways secretary and Director General when the authority agreed with his demands.
Mirsarai tragedy: Gateman suspended, FIR filed
Bangladesh Railway on Saturday suspended gateman Saddam Hossain for "dereliction of duty" in connection with the Mirsarai train accident that left 11 people dead.
Besides, sub-inspector Zahirul Islam filed a complaint against the gateman, Saddam, with the Chattogram Railway Police in the morning, following which an FIR for negligence was lodged against the railway staff, Superintendent of Chattogram Railway Police, Hasan Chowdhury, said.
“Stern action will be taken against Saddam if he is found guilty in the probe committee report,” he said.
Also read: 11 tourists killed, 6 injured after train hits microbus in Ctg
Eleven people were killed and six others injured when a speeding express train rammed into the microbus carrying the tourists at a level crossing in Mirsharai upazila on Friday.
Rail mismanagement: Roni suspends movement
Dhaka University student Mohiuddin Roni has suspended his movement against various irregularities of Bangladesh Railway and for meeting his six-point demand.
He announced the decision after a meeting with the high officials of Bangladesh Railway including the Railways secretary and Director General at Rail Bhaban on Monday night.
Roni said he suspended his movement as the authority assured him to take measures on his demand.
Railways Secretary Md Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh Railway also agreed with the demand of Roni. Rail authority will take action to ease the ticketing system.
Read: Shohoz fined Tk 2 lakh after DU student’s complaint over irregularities in ticket sale
Roni, a Dhaka university student, from July 8, has been demanding the implementation of his six-point demand after being deceived by SOHOZ.com while buying a train ticket to go home during the vacation of Eid-Ul-Azha.
However, when he alleged this deception to Vokta Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, they investigated it and fined SOHOZ.com an amount of TK. two lakh of which Roni was given Tk 50,000 on July 20.
Shohoz-Synesis-Vincen JV commenced managing Bangladesh Railway’s ticketing system on 25 March 2022. Over the last 4 months, millions of transactions have been successfully managed by our ticketing platform.
Rail tracks installation on Padma Bridge likely to start next week: Railway Minister
The work of installing rail tracks on Padma Bridge is expected to be started next week, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Friday.
Bangladesh Railway will hold a meeting with the bridge authority concerned Saturday, he told the journalists at Mawa Station during the inspection of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
“The decision in this regard will be made in that meeting.”
The minister also hoped that the train service from Dhaka to Bhanga through the bridge will be opened for traffic in June next year.
Nurul said the project has been divided into three parts for timely implementation. Of three parts, one part will be from Dhaka to Mawa while the second part from Mawa to Bhanga and the third part from Bhanga to Jashore, he said.
Progress of Mawa to Bhanga section is 80 percent while the progress of Dhaka to Mawa section is 60 percent and the progress of work on the Bhanga to Jashore section is 51 percent, he added.
“Overall work progress is 60 percent.”
“If the railway line is constructed from Dhaka to Bhanga, it will be possible to run trains from Dhaka to Khulna, Jashore, Darshana, Benapole through Faridpur and Rajbari,” he said adding that the new line from Khulna to Mongla, which will be operational by December this year, will be able to operate up to Mongla.
Regarding the vibration on the road bridge during track installation, the minister said a technical team will assess the issue. They will solve if any problems arise.