The Jahanabad Express, operating on the newly inaugurated Dhaka-Khulna route via the Padma Bridge, arrived at Khulna station nearly three hours late on its first day of service on Tuesday.
The train departed Khulna at 6am for Dhaka and was expected to reach Dhaka by 9:45am, according to the schedule. However, it arrived an hour late at 10:45am.
On its return journey, the train was scheduled to leave Dhaka at 8pm but departed at 9:40pm, reaching Khulna at 2:44am – almost 3 hours behind schedule.
Passenger Rezaur Rahman Roni said the train had arrived in Dhaka an hour late. “Although the journey was supposed to take 3 hours and 45 minutes, it took 4 hours and 45 minutes. The return journey to Khulna was delayed by 2 hours and 44 minutes.”
Meanwhile, the Ruposhi Bangla Express, scheduled to depart Dhaka for Benapole at 10:45am, began its journey an hour late.
It was supposed to reach Benapole via Jessore Junction by 2:30pm but was delayed by nearly two hours.
The train left Benapole for Dhaka at 7:10pm, arriving at 9:10pm – two hours late.
Later, it resumed its Dhaka-Khulna journey as the Jahanabad Express, departing Dhaka at 9:40pm and reaching Khulna at 2:44am.
Ashiq Ahmed, acting station master at Khulna Railway Station, attributed the delays to inaugural events and high passenger turnout at various stations, saying the trains would adhere to their schedule in the future.
The trains consist of 12 coaches, including 11 passenger compartments with 768 seats and one cargo van.
The cargo van will facilitate the transportation of consumables and goods from Khulna and nearby districts to Dhaka.
