BR plans to operate all trains by Sept

Bangladesh Railway (BR) is likely to resume operation of all trains by September with 14 more intercity trains on August 27.

Officials said the state-owned train operator is set to complete resumption of intercity train services on September 2 when the rest nine intercity trains will resume operation.

Earlier, BR resumed operating 17 pairs of intercity trains on May 31 and June 3 after public transport movement was relaxed, allowing travel with half of the vehicle capacity and maintaining health guidelines.

Later on August 16, it resumed services of 12 more intercity trains and one commuter train, raising the total number of trains to 43.

Official sources said BR has planned to resume operation of all trains by September as the people's mobility has almost become normal in all public transports including those on road and waterways.

BR Director General Mohammad Shamsuzzaman said they have been monitoring the situation on all other public transports.

"We will gradually resume all train services from next month based on monitoring the situation in the road transport sector," he told the FE over phone.

Regarding running the trains at full capacity, the DG said the decision will also be taken depending on road transport as trains are also public transports like buses.

The BR in a meeting on August 9 decided to resume operation of all its intercity trains. The meeting was attended by Railway Minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon, Rail Secretary Mohammad Selim Reza and the BR Director Genera land officials concerned.

But all these trains have been running with half of the seat capacity avoiding stoppage at some crowded stations. Cent percent ticket arrangements for these trains are managed through online restricting crowd at ticket counters.

The 14 intercity trains and other trains which will resume operation on August 27 are: Paharika/Udayan Express on Chattogram-Sylhet-Chattogram route, Egaro Sindhur Probhati on Dhaka-Kishoreganj-Dhaka, Jamuna Express on Dhaka-Tarakandi-Dhaka, Egaro Sindhur Godhuli on Dhaka-Kishoreganj-Dhaka, Sonar Bangla Express and Chattrola Express on Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram, Korotoa Express on Santahar-Burimari-Santahar, Barendra Express on Rajshahi-Chilahati-Rajshahi, Silk City Express on Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi, Sagardanri Express on Khulna-Rajshahi-Khulna, Dolonchapa Express on Santahar-Dinajpur-Santahar, Dhalarchar Express on Dhalarchar-Rajshahi-Dhalarchar, Dhaka/Chattogram Mail on Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram, Dewanganj Commuter on Dhaka-Dewanganj Bazar-Dhaka, Balaka Commuter on Dhaka-JhariaJhanjail-Dhaka, Bogra Commuter on Santahar-Lalmonirhat-Santahar, Rocket Express on Khulna-Parbatipur-Khulna and Chilhati Express on Parbatipur-Chilhati-Parbatipur route.

BR has, however, halted the mandatory provision to show national identification cards at stations to mitigate passengers' sufferings. Each passenger can purchase maximum four tickets at a time for family members.

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