Call for reopening of Meherullah Nagar station heard

Residents of Churamankati in Jashore Sadar formed a human chain on Monday demanding the reopening of Munshi Meherullah Nagar Railway Station and stops for all trains, including intercity services.

The programme was held at 10am at the station, with people from different professions joining the protest.
Speakers said thousands of students, teachers and officials of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST), along with local residents, face difficulties commuting due to the lack of train services at the station.

They said reopening the station and introducing intercity train stops would also benefit farmers in the agriculture-based area by allowing them to transport their produce to different districts at lower costs and in less time.

They also expressed solidarity with a letter sent by JUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iarul Kabir to the railway authorities, urging them to implement the demands.

The protesters said reopening the station would save students, teachers and local residents from travelling about 12 kilometres to Jashore Junction Railway Station, reducing both time and transport costs.

JUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iarul Kabir said the university authorities support the residents’ demand and strongly urged the railway authorities to introduce stops for all trains, including intercity services, at Meherullah Nagar Station.

The speakers said the station, despite being an old railway station, has effectively remained closed for a long time. At present, only one mail train stops there, while no intercity train has a stop.

The human chain was chaired by its convener Master Shimul Hossain. Noted journalist and columnist Prof Mashiul Azam, Churamankati Union BNP General Secretary Master Mizanur Rahman, and Maulana Mehedi Hasan Jashori, among others, spoke at the programme.

Youth leader Shamim Kabir Wasim, President of Chhatianatala Youth Club, and Jiko Hossain, General Secretary of the club, jointly moderated the programme.