Due to shortage of engines, the regular train service on the Chittagong-Cox鈥檚 Bazar route has been suspended for an indefinite period from today.
Some special trains will be operated on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
Saiful Islam, divisional railway manager of Chattogram, has confirmed the news to 抖阴精品.
He said that a decision was made that the train regular service on the Chittagong-Cox鈥檚 Bazar route would remain suspended for an indefinite period from today.
鈥榃e have a shortage of engines and it has disrupted train schedules,鈥� Saiful said, adding that, some special trains will resume on the route for Eid journeys after two weeks.
On April 8, the Bangladesh Railway launched the special train service from Chattogram to Cox鈥檚 Bazar on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. In view of the demand of passengers and locals, the train was extended till 30 May.
In November 2023, prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 101-kilometre rail line from Chattogram鈥檚 Dohazari to Cox鈥檚 Bazar at a cost of about Tk 18,000 crore.聽
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passenger rights platform, has called for immediate cancellation of the decision to stop the special train service on the Chittagong-Cox鈥檚 Bazar route.
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the organisation secretary general, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, emphasised the importance of maintaining the train service.
The statement also said that following the construction of the Chittagong-Cox鈥檚 Bazar railway for Tk 10,000-12,000 crore by the government to bring railway services to the doorsteps of the people, Bangladesh Railway started two train services from Dhaka to Cox鈥檚 Bazar to provide facilities only to the residents of the capital.
Mozammel said that the Cox鈥檚 Bazar special train service was introduced during the last Eid-ul-Fitr this year and the service quickly became popular, providing a safer and more affordable alternative to the road journey, which is often marred by accidents and excessive fares.
The service was extended twice based on the local railway administration鈥檚 field survey report, he added.
Blaming bus owners鈥� opposition, he said that there were allegations that bus owners have influenced railway officials to discontinue the service due to their declining numbers of passengers.
Mozammel said that stopping the Cox鈥檚 Bazar special train service would benefit the bus operators immensely.