Citizen's rights activists brought out a procession from the District Bar Library in the town on Thursday demanding immediate intercity train service between Dhaka and Panchagarh.

Under the banner of Panchagarh Nagorik Committee local elites from different sectors submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner after the procession for handing over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the memorandum, they requested the PM to take steps to start the long-awaited intercity train service.

The procession followed a discussion where the speakers said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of 150-kilometre broad-gauge line from Panchagarh to Parbotipur on January 30, 2013 for faster and safer journey.

The PM also declared in a public meeting held at Panchagarh Sugar Mills ground on the day that the intercity train service would start plying from Panchagarh just after completion of the track.

The Railway Department completed the work, costing Tk 982 crore, in the first quarter of the current year, but it is yet to take initiative to start intercity train service from Panchagarh.

Rather, the department inaugurated the newly-built broad gauge lines on September 2 in Dinajpur, which has frustrated the people of Panchagarh and Thakurgaon.

The speakers said intercity train service from Panchagarh and Thakurgaon to Dhaka is a long awaited demand of the people of the districts.