The Mango Special Train has become very popular among the farmers and mango traders in Rajshahi. This special train service is under operation for the last five years.
Several varieties of mango weighing 820kgs were sent to Dhaka from Arani Rail station under Bagha upazila by the Mango Special Train on Monday.
This year mangoes have been cultivated on 8,570 hectares of land in Bagha. The harvesting of Guti (Seed) mango has been started from May 15, the Gopalbhog from May 20, Khirsapat from May 25 and the Langra from June 10.
According to the sources, various agricultural products and other goods are also being carried through the special train. The train carries mango and other products at a very low price.
Transportation cost of one kilogram of mango from Arani railway station to Dhaka is only Tk 1.43, whereas, it costs about Tk 20 for one kilogram of mango through the courier services.
On the first day, 820kgs of mango in 39 crates were sent to Dhaka from Arani railway station by the mango special train.
Mango trader Toshiqul Islam of Nurnagar village of Arani area said that he had booked 200kgs of mango at Tk 1.43 per kilogramme. Eight crates each weighing 25kgs of mango were booked for transportation by the train.
He also said it costs him Tk 10 more as labour cost in Arani and an additional Tk 10 labour cost at Dhaka. However, it is saving money compared to sending the mango by road or through the courier services.
Hossain Ali, coolie leader at Arani Rail Station, said 11 coolies are now engaged in carrying and loading mangoes on the train at the station.
Alamgir Hossain, Arani Railway Station Master, said carrying mango by the train is more cost effective than the road transportation. As a result, both the mango farmers and traders are interested in sending their mangoes by the train. The mango special train departed from Arani Railway Station at 8:15am on Monday.
Upazila Agriculture Officer of Bagha Shafiullah Sultan said, “Mango Special Train was inaugurated under the special initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam also took special measures to introduce the train. This train has become popular among the farmers and traders in a short time.”
