Manpower shortage hampers smooth train services in northern districts

BOGURA, Nov 22: Man power scarcity disrupts smooth train service drastically for a long time in Shantaher, a traditional and large railway junction station in North in Bogura, Tillokpur and Joypurhat station in Joypurhat district.
As a result, passengers who are travelling by train are not getting the proper service at all causing various problems.
Meanwhile, they demanded the immediate appointment of man power to boost citizen service from the noted rail stations.
The authority said acute shortage of man power is causing suffering to both officials and passengers simultaneously.
More than 0.2 million passengers of 11 upazilas of Naogaon, three upazilas of Bogura and tree upazilas of Joypurhat district use train service daily to travel to different places including Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Tilahati, Dinajpur, Parbatipur.
But Joypurhat station, Santahar station and Tilakpur closed station are being run by only one station master. As a result, the passengers of the train are not getting the service of the station master for a long time.
On the other hand, 6 post of assistant station masters of the three rail stations remain vacant for a long time. Rather assistant station masters play a vital role in absence of station masters.
Post of 4 ticket booking assistant of these stations remain vacant, causing suffering to the passengers whenever they come to take tickets in the station.
Besides, the post of 15-way man also remains vacant for a long time. As a result, several minor train accidents are being occurred in the region.
The 9 post of cleaners who keep the station hygienic for the passenger, has been lying vacant. The condition of the station and nearby atmosphere of station is quite dirty and unhygienic.
As a result, Bangladesh Railway is facing many difficulties in providing expected services to its passengers with its existing manpower.