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54 stations under west zone rly closed


Published : 22 Nov 2022 08:44 PM | Updated : 22 Nov 2022 08:44 PM

Among 175 railway stations under West zone railway, 54 remained closed due to shortages of manpower and sufficient passengers. Other 121, railway stations, however, remained operational. 

It is learnt, tickets are not sold from the closed rly stations but some trains have their stoppage there. As a result, passengers from those rly stations board the train without procuring any tickets. As a result, these passengers often face troubles and TTEs of those trains often harass those passengers and charge the ticket fare with a fine. Still, many passengers from those stations travel without tickets. As a result, the railway is incurring a loss of thousands of Taka every day.

According to sources, among ten rly stations in Ishurdi-Dhalarchar route, selling of tickets remained suspended from October-17. There is no own manpower of rly in these stations. These stations were kept operational through the appointment of Temporary Recruitment of Labourer (TRL) under daily wages basis. Recently, those TRL members started a movement to make their jobs permanent and they went to Dhaka to join the movement.  As a result, selling of tickets from those railway stations remained suspended.

According the Paksey divisional office of West Zone railway,  the Ishurdi-Dhalarchar rail route was inaugurated at a cost of Tk 1,737 crore in June-2018. Now one train named 'Dhalarchar Express' is running to and from Ishurdi to Dhalarchar daily. 

Among 10 stations from Dhalarchar to Ishurdi, there are no permanent staff to run seven stations. The stations are Badherhat, Kashinathpur, Santhia, Rajapur, Tatibandha, Dublia and Raghabpur. These stations are run by appointing temporary staff (TRL). On October 17, all the staff of those seven stations went to Dhaka by closing the stations for joining movement demanding to make their jobs permanent. As a result, all activities, including selling of tickets from the stations, remained suspended.

A TRL named Mithun informed, under Paksey, Lalmonirhat and Khulna divisions under the West Zone railway informed, there are some 2,100 man-power under TRL. The tenure of those TRL staff will end on December-31. 

Asim Kumar Talukder, General Manager of West Zone railway informed, six stations under Pabna remained closed due to shortage of manpower. TRL staff used to work in those stations. The tenure of their jobs will end on December-31 as a result, many of them went to Dhaka to join movement. 

Rakibul Islam, a passenger of Badherhat railway station informed he is needed to visit Rajshahi three-day  a week for various works. Now, ticket is not available at the station, that is why he purchased ticket on the train. Many passengers locked into altercation with the TTE on the issue to fare.

Divisional Transport Officer Anowar Hossain informed, among 175 stations under West Zone railway, 54 remained closed due to shortages of manpower, rest 121 stations are in operation. However, when asked about the amount of shortages of manpower, he answered it will take time to answer.

Nasir Uddin, Divisional Commer­cial Officer of West Zone railway, Pakesy, informed there is no permanent manpower in 42 stations. These stations are being operated through daily wages basis manpower.