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Railway steps up security for Durga Puja holiday rush

Published : Saturday, 17 October, 2026 at 6:18 PM

Observer Online Report

Bangladesh Railway has taken special measures to ensure safe and smooth train journeys during the Durga Puja holidays, including deploying additional security personnel, introducing extra coaches and operating special trains.

The measures will cover major stations, including Kamalapur and Airport railway stations in Dhaka, where additional law enforcement personnel will be deployed to manage crowds and prevent unauthorised entry. Zigzag barriers will be installed at station entrances to allow ticket-holding passengers to enter more easily.

The decisions were taken at a preparatory meeting held at Rail Bhaban on October 12, chaired by Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam. Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain and senior railway and railway police officials attended the meeting.

According to the meeting minutes, members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed at Kamalapur, Airport and other key areas from October 16 to 25. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will be requested to deploy additional traffic police to control congestion around the two stations. Additional members of the Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) will also be deployed at stations, including Joydebpur, where necessary.

The Special Response Battalion (SRB) will be requested to conduct patrols with dog squads at Kamalapur and Airport railway stations on October 19 and 20. A control room will also be set up in coordination with the DMP and RNB to maintain law and order at Kamalapur station and its surrounding areas.

To prevent ticketless passengers from entering stations, zigzag barriers will be installed at the entrances of Kamalapur and Airport stations. Temporary barriers will also be set up at unsecured entry points outside the main entrances.

Additional personnel will check tickets to ensure that only authorised passengers board trains. To prevent roof travel, people carrying ladders or similar equipment will not be allowed to enter stations. The authorities have also been instructed to ensure that security personnel remain on duty until their replacements take over during shift changes.

To accommodate the expected increase in passengers, the railway has decided to arrange 23 metre-gauge coaches, six broad-gauge coaches and eight additional coaches. The weekly off-days of five trains will also be withdrawn between October 19 and 24 to increase services during the festival.

Three pairs of special trains will operate during the Durga Puja period. Tourist Special-1 and Tourist Special-2 will run on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka route on October 20, 23 and 24. Dhaka Special-3 will operate on the Chattogram-Dhaka route on October 20, while Chattogram Special-4 will run on the Dhaka-Chattogram route on October 24.

Railway authorities, Puja celebration committees and law enforcement agencies will jointly monitor railway lines and ensure uninterrupted train movement. Executive magistrates assigned by the Ministry of Railways will conduct mobile court operations, while railway officials have been instructed to maintain cleanliness on trains and ensure responsible conduct by staff.

Vigilance and supervision teams will be formed by the Ministry of Railways and Bangladesh Railway on October 19 and 20, taking into account the expected crowds during the later days of the festival.

Fahimul Islam said the combination of public holidays and two weekly holidays was expected to encourage more people to travel by train, creating greater pressure than usual.

He instructed the ministry to take necessary measures to monitor law and order and other aspects of railway operations throughout the festival. He said the railway’s responsibility was to ensure that people travelling home or visiting different destinations reached their destinations through proper rail services.

Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain briefed the meeting on measures taken by the railway authorities.

Mamunul Islam, general manager (East) of Bangladesh Railway, said preparations in the eastern region were in place. The authorities would monitor passenger movement and increase preparations if necessary, he added.

He said the region had received instructions from Rail Bhaban and completed its initial preparations, with further decisions to be taken promptly if required.

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