Railway to operate three parcel trains

Bangladesh Railway has decided to operate three special parcel trains to transport food, daily essentials and perishable goods to Dhaka from different districts amid the nationwide shutdown.

The three trains will operate from today on Dhaka-Chottogram-Dhaka, Dhaka-Dewanganj-Dhaka and Dhaka-Khulna-Dhaka, the railway said through a press release yesterday. Two trains will operate every day on first two routes while three days on Dhaka-Khulna-Dhaka route.

Bangladesh Railway suspended all its passenger services on March 24 to contain the spread of Covid-19. It however, continued operation of freight trains.

BR usually transport luggage vans with passenger trains, but as passenger train services are suspended, authorities decided to operate three parcel trains, officials said.

BR Director General Md Shamsuzzman said they had operated such special trains during political unrest in 2014 and 2015 when operations of most of the goods-laden vehicles were halted.

He, however, said the service would depend on demand. Traders would be benefited if they avail the service for carrying vegetables, foods and perishable items, he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Health safety of the railway staff would be ensured, he said, adding that the special service would be stopped once normalcy resumes. Asked about resuming passengers services, he said they did not get any directive in this regard.

Although all public transports remained suspended, operation of goods-laden vehicles continues. But farmers in many areas are counting losses as sale of the products had fallen during this shutdown.