Bangladesh Railway to run three pairs of special trains for Durga Puja, cancels weekly breaks for five trains

Bangladesh Railway will operate three pairs of special trains during Durga Puja and cancel the weekly breaks of five regular trains to accommodate the expected increase in passenger demand.

The decisions were taken at a preparatory meeting on transport management for Durga Puja at the conference room of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on Sunday (October 11), according to a press release issued by Railway Ministry Public Relations Officer Rezaul Karim Siddiqui.

Under the schedule, Dhaka Special-3 will run from Chattogram to Dhaka on October 20. Tourist Special-1 and Tourist Special-2 will operate on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka route on October 20, 23 and 24. Chattogram Special-4 will run from Dhaka to Chattogram on October 24.

To handle the additional passenger pressure, Bangladesh Railway has cancelled the weekly breaks of the Cox’s Bazar Express on October 19 and 20. The weekly breaks of the Jahanabad Express and Rupsi Bangla Express on October 19, the Padma Express on October 20 and the Madhumati Express on October 24 have also been cancelled.

The railway authorities plan to add 23 metre-gauge coaches to trains in the eastern region and six broad-gauge coaches in the western region to meet increased demand during the festival. Additional locomotives will be provided as required.

To keep trains on schedule and minimise delays, officials and inspectors will intensify monitoring at major junction stations and signal cabins. Railway authorities will also step up track patrols to ensure the safety of railway lines and bridges and strengthen routine maintenance of signalling systems, coaches and locomotives.

Relief trains will remain on standby around the clock to respond to emergencies.

Security measures have also been strengthened at major railway stations, including Dhaka, 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 also be deployed at Kamalapur and Dhaka Airport railway stations on October 19 and 20. 

The RNB, GRP and railway employees have intensified surveillance to prevent sabotage targeting trains, stations and railway tracks.

Sunday’s 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 and railways, and Rajib Ahsan, state minister for bridges and shipping, attended alongside relevant secretaries and department heads.

The commissioners of Dhaka and Gazipur metropolitan police and representatives of transport owners’ and workers’ organisations were also present.