Trains running at full capacity, violating health guidelines

Many trains of different routes are being operatedat almost full capacity, violating the health safety guidelines issued due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The staffs of different local station are allegedly helping the passengers without ticket getting into the trains from different stations, filling up the seats which are supposed to remain vacant as per the guideline, according to sources.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) hadearlier decided to continue its passenger services keeping half of the total seats vacant to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Kamalapur Station Master M Aminul Haque. said they were monitoring the stations and will inform the higher authorities if they can identify irregularities.
He also informed that the tickets are being sold online 10 days ahead of a scheduled train.
The Airport, Tongi and Gazipur stations still remained closed for picking or dropping passengers since the BR resumed passenger services on May 31, following a suspension due to the pandemic.
However, the BR has decided to open the three busy stations on September 10.
The BR has gradually resumed all its intercity train services as well as some mail and commuter services since August 16.
With the resumption of 19 more trains on Saturday, the BR has so far resumed 67 pairs of trains.
Meanwhile, the government has allowed all bus transports to operate at full seating capacity, barring standing passengers, from September 01.
Railway minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon admitted that they have received allegations about occupying the vacant seats. "We are getting information that the passengers are getting into the trains from different local stations," he told the FE without elaboration.
"BR will continue the passenger train services maintaining the health guidelines," BR Director General Mohammad Shamsuzzaman said.
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