In last one month, a maximum of 162 freight trains have arrived in Bangladesh from India under Pakshi railway Division, despite the suspension of passenger trains amid the Corona situation.
As a result, a revenue of Tk 15 crore 52 lakh 6 thousand has been collected through Pakshi Railway Division in Ishwardi of Pabna in that time.
According to Pakshi Divisional Transport Officer's Office, such a vast amount of goods have never before arrived in the country from India within such a short period of time. The highest number of freight trains from India has arrived in the country within this time as the passenger train service remained suspended for a month due to the second phase of lockdown.
Divisional Transport Officer (DTO) in Pakshi Anwar Hossain said 162 trains carrying goods from India have arrived in the country in last one month. And 159 empty racks have returned from Bangladesh in that time period.
He added that after independence, it was possible to bring an average of 70 to 80 freight trains from India to Bangladesh every month. Due to the movement of passenger trains, it used to take more time to run freight trains. Besides, engine, driver (crew), train director (guard) could not be found.
This time, the government decision to stop passenger trains for the Corona pandemic did not cause any inconvenience to the freight trains. So these trains were able to travel effortlessly, the official further said.
Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) Nasir Uddin said 162 freight trains arrived in the country from India in April. Of these, 40 were carrying wheat, 21 were carrying rice, 8 were carrying corn and 27 were stone laden trains. The Railway division was able to collect a revenue of Tk 15 crore 52 lakh 6 thousand from the arrival and departure of these freight trains. The collection of revenue this time was several times more compared to previous years, he added.
The official again said the arrival of goods in freight trains from India in this way has increased the revenue of the railways in the Pakshi division as well as created a 'platform' for good relations between the two countries.
