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Haor regions coming under railway network


Published : 25 Mar 2021 09:29 PM | Updated : 26 Mar 2021 01:39 AM

Bangladesh Railway (BR) is moving ahead with a plan to develop the railway sector. As part of the plan, the BR is working to bring Haor regions of Sunamganj district under the railway network, aiming to boost regional connectivity.

Sources said that the authorities concerned want to introduce train service at Haor regions of Sunamganj and Netrakona. However, the BR authorities will begin the expansion work of Sylhet-Chhatak railway to Sunamganj district town soon. Construction of the 34-km Chhatak-Sunamganj rail line will help to bring the Haor region under the railway network, said some people of Sunamganj. 

Alomgir Shahriar, a resident of Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj who lives in Dhaka, said that Sunamganj lags behind in terms of infrastructure development. The present government is trying to develop the transportation system of the district as well as the Haor region. Against this backdrop, the railway authorities planned to construct a 34-km Chhatak-Sunamganj rail line. Anyone could travel directly from Dhaka to Sunamganj after construction of the 34-km railway. However, it will bring positive improvement in the quality of life of the people of the Haor district, he added.

It was learnt that the Ministry of Railways has already proposed a project titled ‘Feasibility Study and Detailed Design for Railway Connection at Sunamganj District Headquarters’, which was sent to the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission. Work on the project will begin after completion of the survey work, sources said. 

The government has taken the project with a challenge. The feasibility of constructing the proposed railway from Chhatak to Sunamganj would be examined. Later, if a railway line is constructed up to Mohanganj in Netrakona, a circular railway will develop. This railway will play an important role in the development of the haor area, he added. 

Sources said that Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan and Environmental Monitoring Plan would be done for the proposed railway under a survey project. The project work will be taken forward by eliminating the negative impact on the environment.

Planning Minister MA Mannan, who is an elected MP from the area said, “Alongside the people of Haor region, my long-time cherished dream is to build a railway line in this area. Finally, we are going to take initiative in his regard. We are giving more importance to the communication system of Haor people. We will first take the railway from Chhatak to Sunamganj town. Later, Sunamganj district will be connected with Netrakona and Mymensingh.”

 Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan has recently visited Chhatak Concrete Slipper Factory, which is now inoperative. The minister said that it would shortly start production and its capacity would be increased to produce broad gauge slippers. During his visit, he also said that the government is planning to build Dhaka-Sylhet railway through Mohanganj and Netrakona. If the plan is executed, the Haor regions of Sunamganj and Netrakoa will come under railway service. 

The demand to bring Sunamganj district under full rail communication was raised in 1961. Haor people have long been demanding for railway network, saying that vegetables, stones and fish from Sunamganj will reach the capital at low-cost if railway line is introduced in the Haor district. 

Following demand of the people, Rabeya Lais, a resident of Hasannagar in Sunamganj town and a member of the-then Sylhet District Council, raised the demand at the district council meeting for the first time in 1961. 

In 2016, Moazzem Hossain Ratan, MP from Sunamganj-1 constituency, submitted an application to the Prime Minister demanding extension of the railway line from Mohanganj via Dharmapasha-Maheshkhala-Tekerghat-Laudergarh to Baitkhali Ghat in the Sunamganj town. Later, a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office was sent to the departments concerned asking them to register the project as DPP.

Muhibur Rahman Manik, MP from Sunamganj-5 constituency, also raised the issue during his budget speech in the Parliament in 2016.