Stray dogs running through passenger seats at Rajshahi railway station — FE Photo RAJSHAHI, Sept 18: Rajshahi railway station premises is now occupied by stray dogs, unauthorised coolies and beggars. Not only the surrounding areas of railway station but also the platforms have become the home of stray dogs.
Passengers at the station often become panicky watching a gang of dogs running through the platform, barking and chasing one another.
Most of the train passengers also feel unsafe at the free movement of unauthorised coolies, beggars and hawkers.
A section of conscious passengers, however, termed such chaotic situation at Rajshahi railway station as the negligence of the railway security personnel.
During paying a visit to the platform of the station on Monday night at around 10-30 pm, this correspondent noticed a group of five to six stray dogs barking and chasing one another by brandishing their canine teeth and start attacking themselves. Passengers waiting at the platform became panicky and some quickly moved away to a safer place.
Meraj Uddin who was waiting on the platform to receive his relative arriving in Rajshahi by Silk City Express train, complained, every one waiting at the platform became panicky at the movement of stray dogs.
Even, among the movement of hundreds of outbound passengers of trains, those stray dogs continue chasing one another. The passengers, specially children and women, were seen to become panicky.
Kamrun Naher, a passenger arrived from Dhaka by Silk City Express train informed, while she disembarked on the platform, some dogs started to howl making her child Rafi cry in panic.
Along with the menace of stray dogs, passengers also suffer from trouble of unauthorised coolies and beggars at the station. Many passengers complained, some underage coolies lock in competition to haul luggage of passengers. Even after settling the fare, these coolies charge a higher amount on various pleas.
Nasirul Haque, a passenger complained, despite there being sufficient number of authorised coolies of the railway in their uniforms, many unauthorised coolies are seen moving through platform and in train compartments. He hoped, the railway authorities will take it up seriously considering security of passengers.
Recently, Touhidul Haque Sumon, Councillor of ward 19 published photographs of some underage coolies in social media. He requested all passengers not to allow those coolies to carry any luggage.
Moreover, there is free movement of beggars at Rajshahi platform area who were also a cause of trouble for passengers.
Jamat Khan, General Secretary of Rajshahi Raskha Sangram Parishad said, it was unacceptable to watch such a pitiable condition of Rajshahi railway station. He called upon West Zone railway authority to take the initiative to remove the menace of dogs, unauthorised coolies and beggars from the station area.
However, station superintendent of Rajshahi railway station was not available for comment.
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