Advance train ticket sales have begun ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha. The online ticketing system for passengers of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Region was launched on Wednesday.
This year as well, full of tickets are being sold through the online platform.
Railway sources said, ticket sales for the Eastern Region will start daily at 2 pm. A passenger can purchase a maximum of four tickets using their National Identity Card (NID) through registration.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Bangladesh Railway (East) Region General Manager Md. Sabuktagin said, all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure safe and comfortable travel for passengers during Eid. He said, “Our main goal is to ensure passengers reach their destinations safely and at an affordable cost. Special arrangements have been made to handle the increased passenger pressure during Eid.”
He said that special train services will be operated on routes including Dhaka–Sylhet, Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, and Sholakia.
Additionally, special trains will run on various routes including Chattogram–Chandpur from two days before Eid.
The railway transport department said that during Eid, around 10,000 tickets per day will be sold online for 16 pairs of trains (32 trains in total, both directions). In addition to advance tickets, 25% of standing tickets will be sold at station counters two hours before departure.
Chattogram Railway Station Master Abu Jafar Majumder said, “Passengers who do not get advance tickets can travel with standing tickets. Including advance, special, and standing tickets, around 12,000 passengers will be able to travel daily during Eid.”
Railway authorities stated that tickets are being sold according to the schedule: tickets for May 23 were sold on May 13, May 24 tickets on May 14, May 25 tickets on May 15, May 26 tickets on May 16, and May 27 tickets will be sold on May 17. Return ticket sales will begin on May 21.
Md. Sabuktagin said that law enforcement agencies are working to prevent ticket black marketing. A large number of suspicious SIM cards used by brokers have been deactivated. Monitoring has been strengthened under directives from railway authorities.
He also said steps have been taken to improve service quality, including ensuring cleanliness of station washrooms and waiting rooms, increasing seating facilities, and adding wheelchairs and trolleys at major stations.
He further mentioned plans to improve the Chattogram University shuttle train service. After the Eid holidays, 10 new coaches will be added to one shuttle train, and older coaches of another train will be replaced. Additionally, Chattogram University Station, Sholoshohor Station, and Chattogram Railway Station will be brought under CCTV surveillance.
