United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Railway Hospitals will soon be accessible to the general public, Railways Adviser Fouzul Kabir announced on Monday, marking a shift from their previous use exclusively for railway staff and their families. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Railway Ministry and Health Ministry at the secretariat. The Secretary of the Health Services Division and the Director General of Bangladesh Railway signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. Save the Children shares experiences in improving healthcare for first-time parents Following infrastructure and healthcare service upgrades, the public will have access to medical services at 10 railway hospitals nationwide and a team from the Health Ministry will inspect the railway hospitals next week to assess the required infrastructural improvements and submit a report in this regard. Besides, necessary steps will be taken for infrastructural development based on the report given by the Health Ministry, said Adviser Fouzul Kabir. Meanwhile, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum said that it is not feasible to immediately open the railway hospitals to the public. “However, efforts will be made to provide medical services to the public as quickly as possible,” she said, adding the Health Ministry will formulate a policy in this regard. She said the country faces a shortage of 8,000 doctors and 2,000 doctors will be recruited through a special BCS examination by September 15. Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum stated that it is not possible to open the railway hospitals to the public immediately. Every effort will be made to provide medical services to the public as soon as possible, and the Ministry of Health will formulate a policy regarding this matter. The adviser also mentioned that there is currently a shortage of 8,000 doctors in the country. Some 2,000 doctors will be recruited through a special BCS exam by September 15, she added. There are 10 railway hospitals across the country, with a total of beds 431. Until now, these hospitals were reserved for railway officers and employees. The health adviser mentioned that both short- and long-term plans will be formulated to ensure public access to treatment alongside railway officials and the general public.  

Rail communication of Dhaka with the northern parts of the country remained suspended on Sunday afternoon as four wheels of a coach of a train derailed on Dhaka-Tangail rail route in Salna area of Gazipur district. Md Nadiruzzaman, in-charge of Joydebpur Railway Police Station, said four wheels of a bogie of the Dhaka-bound ‘Chilahati Express’ train from Nilphamari, veered off the tracks around 2:30 pm at Salna, disrupting train communication of Dhaka with northern parts of the country. However, no casualty was reported. The passengers of the train were seen getting off and going to their destinations in different vehicles using alternative routes. Abul Khayer, station master of Joydebpur Railway Junction, said the train movement through the northern parts of the country via Jamuna Bridge remained suspended following the incident.  

Bangladesh Railway authorities and the Railways Ministry have urged  passengers to purchase tickets only through the official app (Rail Service) or directly from railway counters to avoid potential fraud and harassment during Eid journeys. For the Eid journey, which spans from March 24 to March 30, a maximum of four tickets can be purchased at a time using a single ID, with the names of travel companions also included, said a press release of the Railways Ministry. Advance sale of Eid-ul-Fitr train tickets starts March 14 Similarly, for the return journey, which runs from April 3 to April 3, the same rule applies. Passengers who purchase tickets from unauthorised sources will be at risk of being defrauded, said the release. In line with Bangladesh Railway's rules, the person whose ID is used for purchasing tickets must travel with the corresponding mobile phone and a valid ID card containing a photo of the ID holder. Only the ID holder and their listed companions may travel using the tickets. “Any attempt to travel using a ticket purchased under someone else’s name will result in legal action according to Bangladesh Railway's regulations, it added. Bangladesh’s Trains: Lifeline for millions, yet stuck by challenges Passengers who face fraudulent activities or black-market operators selling tickets under false IDs were urged to report the incident to law enforcement or inform Bangladesh Railway officials. They can also seek assistance from the Railway Police (RNP) and Government Railway Police (GRP) or lodge a complaint via Bangladesh Railway’s hotline at 131. The identity of complainants will be kept confidential, the release added.

Commuter trains will run on short distances from tomorrow (July 25, 2024), Additional Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Arifuzzaman said on Wednesday. “One or two commuter trains will operate from tomorrow on short distance routes. It will take time to resume operation of inter-city trains once the current situation improves,” he told UNB. Besides, network disruption also causes delay of train services as tickets are available online, he added. Read more: AP report: Bangladesh moves back to normalcy after violent clashes that killed nearly 200 people Under the circumstances, commuter trains will operate on the Dhaka-Narayanganj and Ishwardi routes while the authorities will try their level best to resume commuter trains on Dhaka-Joydebpur route, he said. The Burimari commuter train will operate from Lalmonirhat district, said the additional DG. He also said that freight trains or oil-carrying trains were operating since Monday.

Starting in July, residents of Chuadanga district will have direct train access to Dhaka, reducing travel time to just five hours. The Bangladesh Railway is resuming direct rail service on the Dhaka-Darshana route, this time via the Padma Bridge, a move anticipated to greatly benefit commuters. A media release from the Railway’s Western region announced that a pair of trains will run on this route. The first train will depart Darshana for Dhaka around 7 am, arriving at noon. It will then leave Dhaka at 1 pm, reaching Darshana by 4 pm. The second train will operate from 4:30 pm to 9:40 pm and from 11:55 pm to 5 am the following morning. In addition, three trains—Chitra, Benapole, and Sundarban Express—will operate from Jashore's Rupdia or Padmabila to Dhaka via Kushtia, Mobarakganj, and Kotchandpur through the Padma Bridge. Passengers disembarking from moving trains raises safety concerns Currently, Bangladesh Railway operates local, mail, commuter, and intercity trains. Fares range from Tk 0.39 per km for local trains to Tk 1.95 per km for air-conditioned intercity trains. Abdullah Al Mamun, a Dhaka-bound passenger at Chuadanga Rail Station, expressed optimism: “The train line is divided into two parts. If these two trains start, we will benefit from the passenger-tickets, and hopefully, we will get tickets on time. Besides, it will take less time to go to Dhaka.”

The sale of advance train tickets for Eid holidaymakers will start online from June 2. The commuters have to purchase their tickets online and though mobile apps, said Director General of Bangladesh Railway Sardar Sahadat Ali while speaking at a press briefing held at the conference room of the Rail Bhaban over railways’ preparation on the occasion of Eid on Tuesday. The ticket for June 12 will be available on June 2, for June 13 on June 3, June 14 on June 4 and the tickets for June 15 and 16 will be available on June 5 and June 6 respectively. Read more: How to Buy Plane, Bus, and Train Tickets Online in Bangladesh Those sale of tickets will start at 8 am for western region and at 2 pm for the eastern region of the country, he said. Railway Minister Zillul Hakim, deputy secretary Toufique Imam and Additional Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Arifuzzaman were present there.

Bangladesh Railways has initiated a comprehensive modernisation of its signal system, with the aim to transition entirely to broad gauge tracks by 2050. This initiative is expected to eliminate collisions and enhance overall safety. In an exclusive interview with UNB, Sardar Shahadat Ali, Director General of Bangladesh Railway, elaborated on the ongoing and future projects. “We have taken steps to modernise the signal system progressively across all areas. Though the traditional lamp signals are old, they are time-tested; implementing a digital system is a costly affair,” Ali stated. The Bangladesh Railway DG acknowledged the recent increase in train collisions, attributing them to faulty signal systems. “Until 2030, we will procure locomotives for meter gauge, but after that, we will cease their acquisition. By 2050, the complete transition to broad gauge will prevent such collisions,” he assured. Discussing the current locomotive scenario, Ali mentioned that the existing broad gauge locomotives sufficiently meet demand. “We plan to bring in 46 more locomotives for broad gauge and 50 for meter gauge. Additionally, the Chattogram-Dohazari project includes the acquisition of 30 more locomotives. However, we are facing a slight shortage of meter gauge locomotives.” Passengers disembarking from moving trains raises safety concerns Highlighting the advancements, Ali pointed out, “A tender for the digital signal system from Abdullahpur to Parbatipur has been issued and is under evaluation. The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project will see a digital system operational by June. Areas like Tongi, Joydebpur, Dinajpur, and the eastern and western sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge, will transition to an interlocking system once the ongoing non-interlocking projects are completed.” Ali also touched upon the challenges of maintaining meter gauge locomotives, which involve transporting them over the Jamuna Bridge to the central locomotive workshop that is facing workforce shortages. “We expect to resolve these issues by 2030 with the arrival of new locomotives,” he noted. Addressing locomotive defects, the railway DG said, “We have identified some issues with the 3000 series locomotives. Our service engineers are addressing these, and during the warranty period, we aim to rectify all identified problems.” Regarding the lack of skilled personnel, he said, “It is not possible to immediately hire skilled personnel. First, we need to recruit people and then train them to become skilled and proficient. As employees retire, new ones will be hired and trained to become proficient – this will be a continuous process.” Burimari Express derails in Pabna, train service between Dhaka and north disrupted To improve railway services, Ali stated, “We are focusing on timely train departures and arrivals, cleanliness, and food quality. There are no longer ticket black markets, and tickets can be easily purchased online or at stations. Despite high demand, train journeys remain comfortable.” When asked about expanding train connectivity, he confirmed, “The government is committed to improving train communication across the country. We are increasing the number of trains and coaches as needed, and new locomotives will be purchased to meet future demands.”

Despite launching several new development projects aimed at enhancing its services, Bangladesh Railway continues to struggle with the maintenance of old rail lines and bridges, leading to an increase in accidents, including derailments. Sources from Bangladesh Railway report that approximately 63% of rail accidents are due to deteriorating lines and weak bridges. Out of the country's 3,400 kilometers of railway lines, only key sections such as the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Joydebpur, and Jashore-Abdullahpur lines are double-tracked, while the majority remain single-tracked and in poor condition. Transport experts have identified numerous systemic issues including frequent station closures, aging rolling stock, deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowding, delays, ticketing problems, and general mismanagement—all contributing to the railway's challenges. Rail accidents are increasing due to signaling errors, expired coach connections, insufficient supervision of rail lines, risky rail crossings, and lack of passenger facilities. Overwhelming heat exacerbates health challenges across Dhaka, as children bear the brunt of the impact According to unofficial information, there are more than 3,400 kilometers of railway lines across the country, of which only 1,000 kilometers are in good condition. Dr. Hadiuzzaman, a transportation analyst and professor at BUET, criticized the ongoing neglect of essential maintenance in favor of expanding the railway's assets. "There's a tendency to focus on acquiring new locomotives and coaches because it initially costs less than maintaining infrastructure. However, this neglects the crucial upkeep needed for existing rail lines and bridges," he explained. The neglect is evident in the fact that nearly 2,500 kilometers of rail tracks are considered risky, yet trains continue to operate on them, leading to reduced speeds and efficiency. This was highlighted by recent incidents, including a head-on collision between two trains in Gazipur’s Joydebpur due to signaling errors and multiple signaling mistakes on the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar line in Chattogram. Govt plans Tk 2000 billion investment in transport and communication for next two fiscals The traditional signaling method, reliant on manual point adjustments by pointsmen, has been identified as a key risk factor. Station masters' errors in signal provision can lead trains onto the same track, risking collisions. The manual system also increases the likelihood of derailments due to improper point configurations. Progress on modernizing the signaling system has been hampered by financial constraints and delays in payments to contractors, particularly in major projects like the construction of additional lines from Dhaka to Tongi. Sardar Shahadat Ali, Director General of Bangladesh Railway, acknowledged the challenges posed by the ongoing projects and the transition to a computer-based interlocking system. He cited staffing shortages and a lack of skilled workers as exacerbating risks but mentioned ongoing efforts to recruit skilled signal staff and strengthen monitoring systems to enhance safety. Despite these efforts, the newly recruited personnel are still not proficient in the old manual signaling methods, and outsourced pointsmen lack specialized railway training. Regular personnel turnover further complicates the training and adaptation process. According to the 2022-23 annual report of the Ministry of Railways, 315 passenger trains operate across the country. Among them, 143 trains started their journey in the past 15 years. During this time, 843 kilometers of new railway tracks have been constructed, and 1,391 kilometers of railway lines have been repaired. Dhk-Khulna, Dhk-Barishal highways turn perilous; 320 die in one yr Furthermore, buildings have been constructed for 146 new railway stations. Reconstruction of 273 station buildings, construction of 1,037 new bridges, reconstruction of 794 railway bridges, acquisition of 109 locomotives, collection of 658 passenger carriages, relocation of 530 passenger carriages, collection of 516 freight wagons, relocation of 277 freight wagons, and so on, have been done. Currently, there are 1,788 coaches, 47% of which have gone beyond their service life. The number of operational engines is only 295. Against a required workforce of 47,600 in the railway, only 24,000 are currently employed. In the past five years, more than 2,000 accidents have occurred, leaving more than 150 passengers dead, and around 500 injured. In the last four months alone, there have been 160 railway accidents and incidents of sabotage across the country. In these incidents, 18 passengers have died, and 200 have been injured.

Bangladesh has been making fast strides in digitalization across the board. Gone are the days when queuing up for hours was the only option for a ticket during any major holiday. Now, based on availability, tickets can be purchased online for buses, trains, and planes. Here’s how to do it. Best Platforms to Buy Plane, Bus and Train Tickets in Bangladesh  Biman Bangladesh Airlines  Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the premier airline of Bangladesh. As the flag carrier, Biman has been successfully operating international and domestic flights since 1972.  Biman offers online ticketing services for their international and domestic flights. Users can conveniently book flights from the website or use the Biman app available for both Android and iOS users. For any kind of query regarding booking and baggage, users can contact their hotline number.  Read more: How to Buy a Used Motorcycle: A Detailed Checklist Bangladesh Railway E-Ticketing Service  Bangladesh Railway E-Ticketing Service is the premier online ticketing service for train travel in Bangladesh. The platform has endeavored to ease the ticketing process by shifting the service to online. Currently, tickets can be bought 10 days in advance for any route of Bangladesh Railway.  The service also has an app called Rail Sheba. Users can conveniently check schedules and book tickets from the app. Usually, each person is allowed to book up to 4 tickets from one account.  Bus BD  Bus BD is one of the premier websites for booking bus tickets in Bangladesh. The ticketing portal is a subsidy of Robi Axiata Limited. Read more: How to Avoid Scams During Travel Bookings Currently, the portal is operating in all districts of Bangladesh with over 100 bus services under their coverage. The portal busbd.com.bd is easy to navigate with intuitive search and selection options. The standard rate of fare applies to all the tickets purchased through the portal. However, during a rush season like Eid, the platform introduces a reserve ticket system which adds to the cost. Additionally, there’s a 10% ticket cancellation fee for selected bus operators. Bus BD uses the SSLCommerz gateway to support bank, card, and MFS payments for the tickets.  BD Tickets  BD Ticket is an all-in-one portal that also works as a booking site under Robi Axiata Limited. Unlike Bus BD, BD Tickets offers tickets for buses, planes, launches, and hotels. Users can book from their website or the app available for both Android and Apple users.  Read more: 8 Best Motorbikes Coming to Bangladesh in 2024 The web and app interface show search options for all three modes. However, users would have to call their hotline number to confirm air and launch tickets as the interface is still in the development stage.  Users can book tickets in simple intuitive steps and pay through all the leading online payment services.  Launch BD  Launch BD is a dedicated service working alongside Bus BD under the same management. Previously, users were able to search and book for launch tickets directly from the Launch BD portal. But now the booking service has been shifted to Bus BD and BD Tickets portal.  Read more: Shopping in Kolkata: What to Buy and Where to Buy from Shohoz  Shohoz initially offered an all-in-one integrated bus ticketing service to the users. The hassle-free booking and cancellation policy made Shohoz a reliable and popular ticketing service for many.  Later, the company developed the technical infrastructure of the Bangladesh Railway E-Ticketing Service and currently provides train tickets from their dedicated website and app as well. Shohoz also launched its air and waterway ticketing service recently. The air ticketing service is still in its beta state.  Shohoz currently covers over 100 bus companies on over 30 routes. Their launch ticketing service covers more than 50 launches in several local routes.  Read more: Tips to Prevent Food Poisoning while Travelling Jatri  Jatri aims to radically transform the public transportation scenario in Bangladesh by creating a digital ticketing, fleet management, and mobility marketplace for users and stakeholders.  Currently, Jatri offers bus and launch ticket booking services through their website. Users also have the option for reserve bus booking from the portal. This Eid, Jatri is partnering up with bKash for a 100 BDT cashback on ticket booking.  Chokrojan  Chokrojan is another reliable online bus ticket booking portal in Bangladesh. The platform was founded in 2019 to provide a smooth online bus ticketing service to users. Chokrojan is offering tickets for over 1443 trips daily in over 247 destinations.  Read more: Can You Travel Abroad Without Buying US Dollars? The platform currently partners with over 24 bus companies on 64 routes across Bangladesh. The intuitive booking system shows the bus service, fare, and available tickets based on destinations. Users will also be able to select seats according to their preferences.  GoZayaan  GoZayaan is one of the first online travel aggregators in Bangladesh. Founded in 2017, GoZayaan has been working tirelessly in the aviation travel industry both locally and internationally. In addition to their ticketing service, the travel aggregator also offers tour packages across the globe.  The online portal has a sleek and intuitive interface for users to search and book flights. GoZayaan follows standard cancellation policies set by the respective airlines. The convenience fee is non-refundable in case of cancellation.  Read more: Hassle-free travel tips for senior citizens Flight Expert  Being a concern of the Makkah Group, Flight Expert has been providing online travel agent services for several years. Since its inception, the organization has worked to provide all-around support to users from flight booking to hotel management.  Similar to other OTAs, Flight Expert has an intuitive landing page in their portal from where the users can easily search and book flights.  Flight Expert has two unique features that give it a competitive edge in the air travel aggregator segment. Firstly, they have the ‘Best Price Guaranteed’ feature which means they will provide the cheapest rate available for a flight. Secondly, they also have the ‘Book Now Pay Later’ feature which allows users to book and hold a flight for a certain period.  Read more: How to comfortably travel with babies Buy Tickets  Buy Tickets started its operation as a sister concern of Airspan Limited. The OTA started its operation back in 2018 and has since been providing reliable air ticket service to the users. In addition to domestic and foreign flight ticketing services, Buy Tickets also provides comprehensive information on visa processing for different countries.  Currently, the platform is providing up to 15% discount on air tickets in collaboration with bKash for the Eid holiday.  Final Words  With online ticketing services, traveling across Bangladesh and internationally has become easier than ever. Several leading online travel aggregators are providing service with diligence and efficiency. Coupled with selective offers and discounts, it is not only easier but also better to book tickets online rather than going for the physical route.  Read more: Visa-free Eid Vacation for Bangladeshis: 10 Best Affordable Overseas Destinations

Environmentalists and residents have raised serious concern over a recent move by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to cut 46 century-old trees and hill slopes from Tiger Pass to CRB area for the construction of a ramp of the elevated expressway. Earlier in 2022, the government bid to construct a private hospital in CRB area was halted amid strong movement of the port city residents and green activists. The CRB area, that takes its name from the Central Railway Building - built by the British colonial administration in 1872 as the headquarters of the Assam-Bengal Railway - is a scenic, hilly quarter of the Port City known for its Shireesh trees (Albizia Lebeck) Surrounded by centuries-old trees, hills, hills and valleys, this area is home to a variety of species of birds and animals. Chattogram residents celebrate the Bengali New Year on April 14 every year on an open stage called "Shireeshtala" at CRB area. CRB also hosts the famed "Boli Khela", an annual freehand wrestling challenge that draws competitors from far and wide. Read more: No cutting trees without permission in DNCC areas: Atiqul Islam Environmentalists and civil society members fear that felling of trees and destruction of hills will cause environmental disaster. Sources said CDA has already applied to the Forest Department and Bangladesh Railway for permission to fell trees and the trees that will be cut have already been marked. Meanwhile, environmentalists and civil society representatives have called the decision "irresponsible" and requested the CDA to find an alternative plan for the construction of the ramp. Ritu Parvin, an official of green organisation Environmental Movement Green Fingers Bangladesh, said, “CRB is marked as a heritage area. Bangladesh Railway wanted to build a hospital there, but the railway authority backed tracked due to people's agitation. No construction will be allowed in the CRB area and its surrounding areas which will destroy the environment. We will also stage protest. Already we have announced the sit-in programme at CRB on Monday.” Read more: Plant more trees to protect environment: Environment Minister According to the Bangladesh Railway, the Tiger Pass road was built on the hill slope to connect CRB and polo ground with the port area of Chittagong during the British period. It is known as a double decker road to locals. The slope of the hill has been kept as a divider of this road. Hundreds of small and big trees were planted in the road division. Some trees are over 100 years old which are abode of many birds. The construction of the 16 km long elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to the airport at a cost of Tk 4,298 crore is in the final stage. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the expressway in November last year. But it has not yet been opened to traffic. The duration of the project has been extended till June 2024 as the work could not be completed on time. Journalist Mohsin Kazi, Joint Secretary General of Civil Society Chittagong, said that CDA must consider an alternative to build ramps instead of cutting trees by damaging the environment. “If any government organisation tries to cut the trees we will again start movement.” According to CDA officials, among the 14 ramps of the expressway, one will be constructed at GEC junction, two at Tiger Pass, four at Agrabad, one at Fakirhat, two at Nimtala, two at CEPZ and two at KEPZ. One of the two ramps at the Tiger Pass intersection will be on the New Market-bound road via CRB, while the other will be on the Ambagan-bound road. CDA sent a letter to the Bangladesh Railway on March 25 seeking permission to use 14 decimal land for its construction. Kazi Hasan bin Shams, Chief Engineer of CDA, said that the ramp will be constructed in the CRB area with utmost importance to the environment. “It will not have any impact on the environment if the trees are cut to build the ramp. While 46 trees are planned to be cut for the construction of the ramp, more trees will be planted. The ramp will be constructed in the national interest without damaging the double-decker road on the hill slopes.” Md. Sujan, chief estate officer of Railway Eastern Zone said, CDA has sought permission to use the land. “We have a seven-member departmental committee which will visit the area before approval. How much land is there, how many trees are there, whether the trees will be cut - the departmental committee will check all the issues and give a report. Then it will be sent to headquarters for approval.” Read more: WFWP-ULAB organises events to inspire youth to plant trees