Salahuddin Kazol, Jibannagar
Darshana rail station authorities have earned a revenue of Tk.200 million by transporting imported goods weighing 344,147 metric tonnes during the last two and a half months. The goods include pebbles, maize, fly-ash, onion, dried pepper and ginger.
It is learnt, due to Coronavirus pandemic, carrying of imported and exported goods through Darshana railway station remained suspended from march-15 rendering nearly 200-labourers at the station area jobless.
However, the import of goods through India resumed from May-9 with the import of onion in 42 wagons. Later on, other goods like pebbles, maize, fly-ash, pepper and ginger were also imported and carried through the trains.
Darhsana International Railway station authorities informed, in May this year a total of 23 goods train entered into Darshana station from India carrying 41,966.2 metric tonnes of onion, 10,015.4 mt of fly-ash, 2,242 mt of dried pepper and 236 mt of ginger. The earned revenue of Taka 40 million as fare by carrying the goods.
In June 54 goods trains entered into the station carrying 181.216.2 metric tonnes of goods including 59.484.7 mt of onion, 12,343.8 mt of maize, 24,278 mt of chaff, 5,776.2 mt of stone, 2,473.8 mt of fly-ash and 24.876 mt of dried pepper. The government earned a revenue of Tk. 90 million as fare by carrying those goods.
Upto July-23, 47 goods wagons carrying imported goods entered into the station and the rail earned Taka 70 million by carrying the goods.
Abul Kalam, President of Darshahana C&F Agents Assoc. informed due to Corona situation, the import of goods from India remained suspended. Now, the activities of import and export have been resumed.
Mir Liakat Ali, Controller of Darshana International Railway station informed, the import of goods through railway remained suspended as per the government decision. Now, Indian goods are being carried through trains regularly. The carrying of goods through rail wagons being easy and cost-effective, traders are more interested to bring goods through rail.
Jahangir Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of Darshana Customs station informed, the import of goods through trains remained suspended due to Coronavirus which caused an estimated loss of Taka 150 million but now the activities of the station being resumed, the government is likely to recover the loss.
