Bangladesh Railway has launched special parcel train on several rail routes for the convenience of traders to transport essentials as wel as vegetables, eggs and fish for the convenience of traders at the directive of the Prime Minister
"It's a new addition to our rail communication for the common people. It has been launched at the directive of the Prime Minister. Bangladesh Railway has taken the initiative to launch these special parcel trains to transport vegetables, foodgrains and other perishable items produced by farmers amid lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic," said Railway Minister Advocate Nurul Islam Sujan while launching a Dhaka-bound special parcel train from Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam Railway Station in Panchagarh district on Saturday afternoon.
The minister said modern luggage vans are being imported to transport different goods including vegetables. All the luggage vans are airconditioned which will be able to carry fish, meat, eggs, milk and vegetables.
He said parcel trains were launched at several routes at the directive of the prime minister. He said parcel could be booked at any designated station. It will reach Dhaka starting from Panchagarh and taking goods from several stations.
During a video conference with Rangpur Division administration officials and public representatives on Monday afternoon, the Prime Minister asked Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, who was present on the outskirts of Panchagarh, to take steps in this regard.
According to Panchagarh Railway sources, the parcel train will stop at the stations where the intercity train stops and pick up the goods. This train will also transport vegetables and other goods.
Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin said various facilities are being promised to the traders to make them forward in the transportation of railway goods.
Abdul Awal, Assistant Chief Operating Superintendent of the Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway, said the special parcel train would stop at Ruhia, Thakurgaon, Pirganj, Setabganj, Dinajpur, Chirir Bandar, Parbatipur, Fulbari, Birampur, Joypurhat, Akkelpur, Santahar, Ahsanganj, Noldangarhat, Natore, Muladuli, Lahiri Mohonpur and Tejgaon railway stations to pick and drop goods. No passenger will be able to travel on the train. The train will leave Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam Railway Station in Panchagarh at 1:00pm on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays and reach Dhaka at 2:00am. It will leave Dhaka at 4:00am on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and reach Panchagarh at 5:00pm. The train will not leave Panchagarh on Friday and Dhaka on Saturday every week. The special train will ply on the basis of adequate bookings.
On the first day, traders were given opportunities to transport some 50 tons of tomatoes and dried chillis to Dhaka at free of cost.
Panchagarh-1 constituency MP Md Mozaharul Huq Prodhan, Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin, Police Super Mohammad Yusuf Ali, District Awami League Gneeral Secretary and Zila Parishad Chairman Anwar Sadat Shamrat, Bangladesh Railway Lalmonirhat Division Manager Taposh Kumar Das, Divisional Manager (Traffic) Snehashish Das Gupta, Divisional Engineer Anwar Hossain and Station Master Mosharraf Hossain, among others, were present.
SIS/SZA
