4 rail stations shut for staff shortage

Four railway stations on Sylhet-Akhaura route have remained closed over the last four years due to shortage of manpower, including station masters, much to the sufferings for the passengers. The four shut stations are Tilagaon and Bhatera stations in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar district and Laskarpur and Itakhola stations in Habiganj. Railway officials said the stations were closed down on March 17, 2009 mainly for station master shortage. The authorities, afterwards, were forced to appoint a station master in Tilagaon station following newspaper reports on the difficulties the passengers were undergoing for the closure of the stations. But, three to four days into the appointment, the newly-posted station master was transferred to Shamsernagar station on deputation for the reason only known to the authorities. Earlier, the authorities transferred only recruited station master of Tilagaon station Motiur Rahman to Zinardi station creating the situation for shutting down the former station. Locals said though Laskarpur, Itakhola and Bhatera stations surrounded by industrial units and tea gardens should be given importance, the stations have remained closed and unguarded. Three posts of station masters have remained vacant in each of the stations for a long time. In addition to that, closure of the stations forces many trains to complete crossings through other stations leading to collapse in train schedules and causing sufferings to the commuters, according to UNB.