SIFAYET ULLAH, Ctg

The only local train on the Chattogram-Sylhet route, Jalalabad Express, has remained suspended for nearly five years since February 2020.

According to Bangladesh Railway officials, the suspension followed an acute shortage of locomotives and coaches. The suspension has adversely affected the state agency’s revenue generation, they said.

Meanwhile, it has forced low-income passengers to spend more on commuting.

Currently, two intercity trains -- Paharika Express and Udayan Express -- serve the route, with around 2,500 passengers commuting daily. A Shobhan Chair ticket on these trains costs at least Tk 375, double the fare of the local train.

“The suspension of Jalalabad Express has increased my travel expenses, as I either have to commute through a bus or intercity train,” said Abdul Aziz, an office assistant at a company in the port city and a resident of Moulvibazar.

Hiron Miah, a farm labourer from Habiganj district working in Chattogram, said they used to travel on this route with the local train as the ticket price was cheap.

“We work in paddy and vegetable fields in Chattogram seasonally. For this, we travel on this route around eight times every year. We could travel at a low cost before, but that opportunity is no longer available,” he said.

As per 2019 data, the local train used to generate Tk 3 lakh in revenue from up-down trips daily.

Passengers of the route demanded BR to resume the service soon.

Abdul Malek, a fish trader from Habiganj district who regularly comes to the port city to buy dry fish and sea fish varieties, said, “The local train enabled me to transport my goods at a low cost. I urge the BR authorities to resume the local train service on this route.”

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