Special train service halted on Cox's Bazar-Chattogram route

COX'S BAZAR, May 30: The railway authorities have stopped operation of special train on the Cox's Bazar-Chattogram route from Thursday citing engine and loco master crisis as the reason.
Train service on the route started on December 1, 2023. Later the railway authorities put into operation another train Parjatak Express on January 10 this year.
Since then there has been a demand for special train service on the Cox's Bazar-Chattogram route.
In view of this, during the last Eid-ul-Fitr, the railway authorities launched a pair of special trains on the route for 15 days.
Later, in response to the demand of the passengers, the special train service was extended till June 10. But the railway authorities decided not to extend the time.
And the decision came to stop train movement from May 30 due to the crisis of engine and loco master.
The matter was confirmed by Golam Rabbani, master of Cox's Bazar iconic railway station.
He said that the special train running on the Cox's Bazar-Chattogram route leaves Chattogram Railway Station at 7:00am every day and reaches Cox's Bazar at 10:20 am.
Again after leaving Cox's Bazar at 7:00pm, it reaches Chattogram at 10:00 pm.
En route, the train stops and carries passengers from Sholshahar, Janalihat, Patiya, Dohazari, Satkania, Chakaria, Dulahajara and Ramu stations.
There are 600 seats in all 11 compartments. Trains remain full of passengers every day.
It was informed in the emergency notification of the eastern part of the railway that movement of the Cox's Bazar Special 3-4 train was started by the office of the Director General (DG) of Railways, to be continued till June 10.
Special train service has been canceled from May 30 till June 10.
Railway Eastern Divisional Manager (DRM) Saiful Islam said, "Decision has been taken to stop plying of the Cox's Bazar special train from the eastern region from May 30. It was closed following a decision of the higher authorities. The reason is mainly crisis of engine and loco master."
However, passengers have demanded continuation of special train movement on the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar route.
A passenger named Fahmida Nabi said, "We don't want the special train service on Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route to be stopped. It is our demand that special trains would run daily on the route. We have benefited a lot from the running of special train. As bus fare has increased on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route, common people are suffering a lot."
Meanwhile, bus fare is likely to increase further due to the suspension of special train service.
Passenger Salim Uddin said, "Travelling by train is easy and safe. But I cannot accept that operation of the special train will be stopped suddenly. Tourists and locals will have to suffer if trains are stopped on this route."
General Secretary of Multiparty Advocacy Forum (MAF) Yusuf Badary said, "People will not take it well if trains stop running on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route. Train movement on the route was a great expectation of the people."
"Now if the special train is stopped suddenly it may create resentment among the people. I demand that train operation should continue on this route," he added.
On November 11 last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the new 101 km rail line built from Chittagong's Dohazari to Cox's Bazar.
Later on December 1, 2023 Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service was officially started.

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