Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has assured that necessary measures are being taken to prevent last-minute boarding on train roofs or unauthorised travel, ensuring smooth journeys during this year’s Eid.
He made the comments on Friday after inspecting Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station.
With Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, train services began on Friday, and significant passenger presence was seen at Dhaka’s railway stations on the first day of Eid travel.
Shaikh Rabiul Alam said advance tickets were sold online in phases from March 3 to 9. During the sale, nearly 3.7 million people attempted to book tickets, while about 36,000 were successfully issued in line with the railway’s capacity.
He added that by the morning of the first day of Eid travel, 21 trains had departed, most on schedule, with only two trains leaving about 40 minutes late.
The minister said passenger feedback indicated overall satisfaction with the arrangements, though some expressed concerns about maintaining service quality in the future.
Shaikh Rabiul Alam assured that the railway would make every effort to uphold and further improve service standards.
To manage extra passenger loads during Eid, additional coaches have been added. Metre-gauge trains received 124 extra coaches, and broad-gauge trains about 14, increasing daily passenger capacity to 36,000–42,000.