Train ticket scalpers are preparing to cash in on an artificial crisis of tickets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr while Bangladesh Railway (BR) and Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) officials are collaborating with the scalpers to secure a slice of the pie, according to an intelligence report.
Violating railway rules, Mohammad Arafat, ticket booking officer at Chittagong Railway Station, is selling tickets to scalpers in exchange for a large sum while Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jasim Uddin of RNB (general branch) in Chittagong is not taking any action against scalpers but is taking money from them instead, the report said.
The report also found involvement of booking officers Kazi Matinul Islam alias Raihan and Noyon at Chittagong Railway Station in the offence.
Names of 48 scalpers were mentioned in the report along with 11 RNB officials and the three booking officials of the railway station.
The RNB men are Nayek Mohammad Hafiz and Nayek Shoyaib of RNB (arms), ASI Jasim Uddin, ASI Solaiman, Nayek Yusuf Ali, Nayek Jasim, Nayek Akhter, Habildar Rafiq, Habildar Shahin, Mahfuzur Rahman and Alamgir of RNB general branch.
Arafat told the Dhaka Tribune he receives the money if someone, out of their own will, gives him Tk5-10 after getting the ticket.
He said he was not aware of other officials involved in the act because he had joined recently.
Noyon, however, refuted the allegation against him while Raihan could not be reached for comment.
Ishaq, a fabric store owner at Chittagong Shopping Complex who had his name on the list, admitted to his involvement in the scalping without any hesitation. Terming it a “secondary business,” he said he works in collusion with RNB men.
“If someone gives me an additional Tk200 with the actual price of the ticket, I can manage him a ticket a day before he makes the journey,” said Ishaq.
Like Ishaq, Rana Enterprise owner Mahmud, Manashi store owner Siraz, ABC Garment official Yusuf, Nabil Fashions employee Ershad, Sobhan Hotel staff Anwar, Rafiq, Jahangir, Jasim and Delwar Hossain are involved in scalping beside their regular job for the extra cash.
“Scalpers collect tickets from booking officials from the counters at the railway station with the assistance of station and RNB men. These tickets then go to different shops where people like Ishaq work. These people sell the tickets to passengers at a higher price who fail to get it from counters,” ASI Jasim of RNB, who is involved in scalping, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Besides, some senior BR officials are involved in ticket touting, said Ishaq.
General Manager Mojammel Hoque of BR (east) said the railway authorities always maintain a strict approach against scalping.
“Sometimes allegations are raised against BR officials and employees. If we receive a particular complaint, we will take action. None would be spared in such cases,” he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Babul Akhter of Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said there is an overwhelming demand for tickets during Eid and the scalpers use the situation to their advantage.
“We have kept an eye on them and will take necessary action,” he said.
Abul Kalam Azad, station manager of Chittagong Railway Station, said the practice of ticket touting was there in the past and it still exists but the rate of the offence has gone down because of strong vigilance by the authorities.
“We have already installed additional CCTV cameras at the station for heightened surveillance,” he said.
On June 3, Md Salauddin, 23, son of Chief Operating Superintendent Kazi Md Shoeb of BR (east), was held with 20 tickets while three other scalpers Al-Amin, Mohammad Amin and Mohammad Shakil were detained by RAB on May 22.
The arrestees mentioned the name of Assistant Commercial Officer Abul Kashem, Traffic Inspector (commercial) Maniruzzaman Mamun, Goods Assistant Mujahid and railway employee Narayan Babu, claiming their involvent in scalping.