Students to Get 25% Fare Discount on Commuter Trains

The government has taken an initiative to provide a 25 per cent discount on commuter train fares for students travelling short distances. However, students must have a government-issued Unified Identity Card (Unified ID) to avail themselves of the benefit.

As part of the initiative, the process of introducing Unified Identity Cards for students at educational institutions across the country has begun in phases.

Recently, the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board issued an official directive to heads of all madrasas and relevant governing bodies, instructing them to take necessary steps to introduce the Unified ID system for students.

According to documents from the Ministry of Railways and the Technical and Madrasah Education Division, the decision was taken during a meeting on improving railway transport management at the Prime Minister's Office on March 3.

As part of the implementation of electoral manifesto commitments, railway fare concessions for elderly and passengers with disabilities were introduced on May 24.

However, the student fare discount on commuter trains could not be implemented due to the absence of a specific identification system or a standardised identity card for students.

In an official order signed by Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board Registrar Professor SM Touhiduzzaman, all madrasas under the board have been requested to take the necessary measures to introduce Unified Identity Cards for students at every level.

The directive calls on madrasa principals, superintendents, heads of institutions, chairpersons and members of governing committees to take appropriate initiatives to ensure its implementation.

Once the identification system is introduced, eligible students will be able to avail themselves of a 25 per cent discount on short-distance commuter train journeys using their Unified IDs.

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