Bagerhat Correspondent :
After the long 7 months of the ceremonial operation of Khulna-Mongla train service the regular passenger train service started since 1st June, 2024. After long 73rd years of the establishment of Mongla, the 2nd biggest sea Port of the country was connected with the Rail way link (of the country). “Betna” commuter local train that was earlier plying between Khulna and Benapole land port it was renamed as “Mongla Commuter train” and started its operation on Mongla-Beapol rail line since the day (June 01) once in a day excepting Tuesday as the off day. This rail line was constructed at a cost Tk.4.25 crore. But at first only one train will ply on this line.
On the day (Saturday; June 01) in the morning Mongla commuter train left Benapole land port and arrived at Mongla at noon. At that time the cheerful people of Mongla and its adjacent areas welcomed the train.
The old Betna commuter train stated to ply on this train line with its old engine and coaches. On the other hand, just with the plying of commercial trains between Khulna and Mongla the long felt desires and dreams of the people of this region were fulfilled.
The businessmen and traders will be able to take the delivery and send their goods with less time and less cost from Mongla Port and the trade and commerce will be flourished to a great extent. The communication system will go ahead through the railway connection. Tourism based on Sundarbans will be more attractive and less costly to the tourists of both home and abroad. As a result, the tourism will be more profitable to those who are involved in this sector. On the other hand, Mongla port will be transit connection with India, Bhutan and Nepal in near future through this train line.
Asim Kumar Talukdar, Railway General Manager of the Western Zone told “Betna Commuter” train will ply between Mongla-Benapol as “Mongla Commuter” train for the time being. In future another train will ply on the same rail route. This commuter train has the capacity to carry 676 passengers.
It is learnt from the project office that this project (Khulna-Mongla rail line) was passed by the National Economic Executive Committee (ECNEC) on December 21 in the year 2010. At that time the total cost for the construction of the rail line (including acquisition of lands. construction of a Bridge over the river Pashur etc.) was fixed at Tk,1 thousand 7 hundred 21 crors and the time was fixed for 4 years. But it was taken more than 13 years (till March 31 in the year of 2024) and the construction cost raised from Tk.1 thousand 7 hundred 21 crors, to Tk.4 thousand 2 hundred 60 crors 88 lakh 59 thousands,
It was also learnt from an authentic source that the train service was ceremonially inaugurated (the train) on this newly constructed Fultala- Mongla Rail Line on November 01, 2023 virtually and jointly by Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, the 2 premiers of Bangladesh and India.
Before this the train was operated on this line on March 30 in the year 2023 on the trail basis.
After that steps were taken on several occasions to ply the passenger train on commercial basis on this line. But that could be translated into actions.