Members of several social organizations lay on the railway tracks in Sylhet on Wednesday in a symbolic protest, demanding the double-lining of the Sylhet-Dhaka railway and the introduction of new trains.

The demonstration took place around 3 pm at the South Surma rail gate and was organized by the Sylhet Kalyan Sangstha, Sylhet Division Jubo Kalyan Sangstha, and Sylhet Probashi Kallyan Sangstha.

A public gathering followed the protest.

Speakers at the gathering highlighted the growing passenger demand for rail travel due to traffic congestion and hardships on the Sylhet-Dhaka highway.

They claimed that train tickets have become extremely difficult to obtain, selling out within minutes of release, while black-market prices surge three to four times higher.

They accused the railway authorities of silent complicity in such syndicates and stated that Sylhet is being deliberately neglected in railway development.

The protesters demanded rapid double-lining of the Sylhet-Dhaka route, addition of new trains, uninterrupted services on Sylhet-Chattogram and Sylhet-Cox’s Bazar routes, resumption of the Sylhet-Chatak route, train upgrades, and extra carriages.

 “If there is no improvement in the Sylhet-Dhaka rail service within a month, we will lie in front of railway engines in protest,” Sylhet Kallyan Sangstha President Mohammad Ehsanul Haque said.

Leaders and activists from various social and civic organizations joined the demonstration.