Commuters suffer as the Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (Demu) train services on Parbatipur-Thakurgaon and Parbatipur- Lalmonirhat routes have remained suspended for 86 days due to security reasons.
Authorities of Bangladesh Railway (BR) had stopped the plying of the Demu trains on the routes on January 5 when the BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced blockade across the country.
The BR’s officials in Thakurgaon told the Dhaka Tribune that they stopped the train services to avoid any attack on the trains by pro-blockade and pro-hartal activists.
Shamsul Haq, a station master of BR in Thakurgaon, said they stopped plying of the trains to ensure security of the passengers.
Maleka Parvin Bithi, a lecturer of Abul Hossain Sarkar College, was a regular commuter of the train on Parbatipur-Thakurgaon route.
“I used to travel by the train regularly to go my college. But now I am facing various problems as the train service has remained stopped for about three months,” she said.
Shahdat Hossain, a student of Thakurgaon Government College, was another user of the train service.
“Now I have to travel about 30 kilometers by bicycle from my home to the college. Its really difficult to attend my classes by driving bicycles,” he said. “I cannot pay attention to my study at home as I become tired to travel to my college and home,” he added.
AKM Lutfar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Parbatipur Railway police station, said no subversive activities could take place in the area because of active role of the law enforcers.
“We will ensure necessary securities if the railway authorities resume the train services,” he said.
On August 27, 2013, Railway Minister Mujibul Haque inaugurated the Demu train services at the Thakurgaon Railway Station.
With three bogies, the train can carry 300 passengers – 149 sitting and 151 standing.
The train on Parbatipur-Thakurgaon rout stops at five stations at Chirirbandar, Dinajpur, Setabganj, Pirganj and Thakurgaon.
Meanwhile, the train on Parbatipur- Lalmonirhat route stops at Kholahati, Badarganj, Rangpur, Kaonia, and Lalmonirhat.