NN Online:
Train service on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari rail route has been suspended for five days due to a blockade on the rail line enforced by local residents.
The locals have been observing a railway blockade at Patgram Railway Station since Monday, demanding direct service of the Burimari Express from Burimari Railway Station to Dhaka.
Meher Ali, a passenger speaking at Burimari Railway Station, said that there are 13 stations on the 84-kilometre Lalmonirhat-Burimari rail route and four passenger trains usually operate on it every day.
He added that passengers in the area always travel by train safely at a low cost. But since the train service has been suspended, they have been taking risks and spending more money travelling on the roads.
Patgram Railway Station Master Noor Alam said locals and regular passengers enforced the blockade demanding that the intercity train, the Burimari Express, run directly from Burimari to Dhaka.
According to the blockaders, the Burimari Express started its operation directly from Burimari on March 12 last year. But a day later on March 13, it started operating from Lalmonirhat Railway Station. Since then, passengers from Burimari have been travelling to Lalmonirhat via a shuttle train to board the Burimari Express.
Patgram Sangram Unnayan Parishad’s President ATJ Siddiqui said the railway authorities earlier promised to start the service from Burimari to Dhaka several times, but it has not been implemented.
“The blockade programme will continue until our demands are met,” he said.
Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway Commercial Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said that preparations are underway to resume direct train service from Burimari to Dhaka.
“For this, many arrangements have to be made. All these works are ongoing. But the locals are continuously blocking the railway route without giving time to the railway authorities,” he said, adding, “We have informed the higher authorities of the matter. Next steps will be taken accordingly once the decision is made by them.”
