Stopping train ticket sale on black market

Train journey is safe, comfortable and affordable. But for rampant black market operating for train tickets, many travellers nowadays are avoiding trains. Passengers cannot find tickets at the ticket counters, though those can be bought from several Facebook groups where brokers try to sell train tickets bought earlier. The problem is that they have to pay some extra money. Some tickets are always available in the black market though the whole system of ticketing has gone digital now.

Bangladesh Railway (BR) has introduced online ticketing system and passengers can purchase their tickets using BR's e-ticketing service. However, the tickets which can be bought from this site are often sold out, even several days before a journey. Recently, allegations were made by passengers that some corrupt railway officials are involved in supplying tickets to the black market. Passengers have also complained that if someone pays extra money to the person at the counter, they can get a ticket easily. A group of black market operators move freely around Kamalapur Railway Station and openly sell tickets charging high price. In this situation, we urge the railway authorities to identify those involved in this illegal practice of black marketing and take stern action against them. Otherwise, people will reject this popular service forever.

Ashikujaman Syed,

Foreign Service Officer,

Anhui Haikang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd,

Anqing, China,

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com