Pakshi Department of Bangladesh Railway West Zone is suffering from losses in passenger transportation sector due to the curfew across the country and the fear of sabotage centering around the quota reformation movement.
Sources from Divisional Railway Office of Pakshi said income of Railway in this sector has decreased by Tk 12.5 crores as movement of passenger trains were suspended for the last 10 days.
Sources said Pakshi Railway Department has the largest area in the country. The head quarter of Divisional Railway Department is situated at Pakshi under Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna district. A total of 114 passenger trains run every day in various routes, including the route of the capital Dhaka, under this important department. Among them, there are 56 intercity trains. According to the calculation of Railway Department, Pakshi Railway Department earns Tk 1.25 crores every day from these passenger trains. Moreover, there are freight trains and oil-laden trains and the Railway Department earns a lot from these trains as well.
However, movement of all trains with Dhaka remained suspended since the night of July 19 for the safety of passengers and Railway properties due to the arson, attack, vandalism and fear of sabotage centering the quota reformation movement. Movements of all the 114 trains were suspended gradually from the next morning on July 20. Pakshi Railway Department suffered a loss of Tk 1.25 crores from passenger transportation sector alone due to that. Moreover, they counted more loss as movements of freight trains and oil-laden trains were suspended for a few days.
Meanwhile, freight trains have started operating from July 23 limitedly. Passenger trains have started operating on Rajshahi-Rangpur route only from July 25.
Divisional Railway Office in Pakshi Engineer-2 Birbal Mondol said there was no instruction for the operation of passenger trains from the Railway headquarters. However, we have preparations. The operation of train to all over the country, including capital city Dhaka, will resume when we get instructions.
Meanwhile, Divisional Railway Manager of Pakshi Divisional Office, Shah Sufi Nur Mohammad, said the number of passengers in train has increased as the service of Railway has been improved. However, considering the safety of the passengers, Pakshi Railway Department halted the operation of trains since the night of July 19 due to quota reformation movement. So, the income in train passenger transportation sector has decreased.
