Hundreds besiege Nilphamari railway station

Closure of 2 Khulna-bound trains protested

15 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Hundreds of people on Tuesday besieged Nilphamari railway station and obstructed movement of a newly-introduced Dhaka-bound inter-city train for about an hour protesting closure of two Khulna-bound inter-city trains. They obstructed inaugural journey of Dhaka-bound Nil Sagor inter-city train for 45 minutes on the first day of Bangla New Year protesting what they said an unwise decision of Bangladesh Railway (BR) of permanent suspension of operation of Khulna-bound Rupsha Express and Simanta Express inter-city trains from Nilphamari station. BR earned a good profit through sale of passenger tickets and booking of luggage from the Khulna-bound trains, Nilphamari railway station sources said. Earlier, Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry formed a human chain in the district town demanding resumption of the trains. At a brief rally, speakers termed the Nilphamari-Khulna railway route an important one where hundreds of passengers travel and a large number of agricultural products are transported to the south-western region every day. The route is also popular to travelers who intend to visit India through Benapole land port, they said adding, a large number of students of Indian universities also use the same route to visit Bangladesh. Locals welcomed the railway authorities' decision to start operation of Dhaka-bound 'Nil Sagor' inter-city train from Nilphamari but aggrieved at BR's simultaneous decision of suspension of operation of Rupsha and Simanta inter-city trains. Earlier, 'Nil Sagor' used to ply from Saidpur railway station, about 20 kilometre off Nilphamari station since its commissioning in 2007. Contacted, Nilphamari railway station master Shafiqul Islam said Rupsha and Simanta express trains were withdrawn due to lack of infrastructural facilities. Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Abdul Wahed said traders, passengers and students are the worst sufferers due to closure of the trains. He demanded immediate resumption of the trains.