The Bangladesh Railway's online ticketing partner Shohoz-Synesis-Vincen-JV has claimed to have issued around 1 crore train tickets in the last four months.  The ticket service provider issued 80,000 to 1 lakh tickets online and over the counters on average daily, according to a media statement. Shohoz started issuing train tickets on March 25 this year at 77 stations by counter panel software following its contract with the Railway. Read: Shohoz files writ with HC challenging legality of Tk 2 lakh fine Despite allegations of scams in online ticketing, Shohoz claimed to have issued more than 16 lakh tickets during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. The vendor signed an agreement with the authority on February 15 to operate the ticketing system of the Railway. In 1994, a computer-based ticketing system was introduced in the Railway. At that time, only 27 stations used to issue tickets through the system, but now, 81 stations use it.

The High Court has granted seven more days to Bangladesh Railway to submit a report on mismanagement including black marketing of tickets, carrying passengers on roof etc. Bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder asn Justice Khizir Hayat Khan passed the order on Sunday after the rail authority appealed seeking extension of time. Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing. The court has asked to submit the compliance report by Sunday after extending the time, said the DAG. On July 21, the HC bench asked the railway authorities to submit an action taken report by July 31 on its order to stop traveling on train tops and black-marketing of train tickets. Read: Rail mismanagement: Roni suspends movement Earlier, the court also wanted to know the stance of Dhaka University (DU) student Mohiuddin Roni’s protest about his six-point demand as he staged demonstrations at Kamalapur station from July 7-18 against Bangladesh Railways mismanagement. The High Court also wanted to know what steps the Anti-Corruption Commission took  after Rony’s protest against corruption in the country's railway sector. Following the court's order, the railway authorities said that a probe body was formed to look into the allegations. A letter of the probe body was also submitted to the court by Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin. Read: BNP blames AL’s internal feud for Narail communal violence Roni, from July 7, has been demanding the implementation of his six-point demand after being deceived by SOHOZ.com while buying a train ticket to go home during the vacation of Eid-Ul-Azha. However, when he alleged this deception to the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), they investigated it and fined SOHOZ.com an amount of TK. two lakh of which Roni was given Tk 50,000 on July 20. On July 25, Roni suspended his movement after a meeting with the high officials of Bangladesh Railway including the Railways secretary and Director General when the authority agreed with his demands.  

Bangladesh Railway on Saturday suspended gateman Saddam Hossain for "dereliction of duty" in connection with the Mirsarai train accident that left 11 people dead. Besides, sub-inspector Zahirul Islam filed a complaint against the gateman, Saddam, with the Chattogram Railway Police in the morning, following which an FIR for negligence was lodged against the railway staff, Superintendent of Chattogram Railway Police, Hasan Chowdhury, said. “Stern action will be taken against Saddam if he is found guilty in the probe committee report,” he said. Also read: 11 tourists killed, 6 injured after train hits microbus in Ctg Eleven people were killed and six others injured when a speeding express train rammed into the microbus carrying the tourists at a level crossing in Mirsharai upazila on Friday.  

Dhaka University student Mohiuddin Roni has suspended his movement against various irregularities of Bangladesh Railway and for meeting his six-point demand. He announced the decision after a meeting with the high officials of Bangladesh Railway including the Railways secretary and Director General at Rail Bhaban on Monday night. Roni said he suspended his movement as the authority assured him to take measures on his demand. Railways Secretary Md Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh Railway also agreed with the demand of Roni. Rail authority will take action to ease the ticketing system. Read: Shohoz fined Tk 2 lakh after DU student’s complaint over irregularities in ticket sale Roni, a Dhaka university student, from July 8, has been demanding the implementation of his six-point demand after being deceived by SOHOZ.com while buying a train ticket to go home during the vacation of Eid-Ul-Azha. However, when he alleged this deception to Vokta Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, they investigated it and fined SOHOZ.com an amount of TK. two lakh of which Roni was given Tk 50,000 on July 20. Shohoz-Synesis-Vincen JV commenced managing Bangladesh Railway’s ticketing system on 25 March 2022. Over the last 4 months, millions of transactions have been successfully managed by our ticketing platform.

The work of installing rail tracks on Padma Bridge is expected to be started next week, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Friday. Bangladesh Railway will hold a meeting with the bridge authority concerned Saturday, he told the journalists at Mawa Station during the inspection of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project. “The decision in this regard will be made in that meeting.” The minister also hoped that the train service from Dhaka to Bhanga through the bridge will be opened for traffic in June next year. Nurul said the project has been divided into three parts for timely implementation. Of three parts, one part will be from Dhaka to Mawa while the second part from Mawa to Bhanga and the third part from Bhanga to Jashore, he said. Progress of Mawa to Bhanga section is 80 percent while the progress of Dhaka to Mawa section is 60 percent and the progress of work on the Bhanga to Jashore section is 51 percent, he added. “Overall work progress is 60 percent.” “If the railway line is constructed from Dhaka to Bhanga, it will be possible to run trains from Dhaka to Khulna, Jashore, Darshana, Benapole through Faridpur and Rajbari,” he said adding that the new line from Khulna to Mongla, which will be operational by December this year, will be able to operate up to Mongla. Regarding the vibration on the road bridge during track installation, the minister said a technical team will assess the issue. They will solve if any problems arise.

Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets on July 1 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Advance tickets of July 5 will be available on July 1, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan at a press conference at Rail Bhaban on Wednesday. Also read: Main Eid congregation to be held at Nat’l Eidgah at 8am Besides, the advance tickets of July 6, 7, 8 and 9 will be available on July 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Besides, the selling of return tickets will begin from July 7, he said. The return tickets for July 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 will be available on July 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively. He said advance ticket sale will start from 8 am through ‘Rail Sheba’ mobile app and e-ticketing on the internet. Ticket sale at the railway stations will begin from 8am and continue until 4pm. To reduce passenger pressure at Kamalapur station, advance tickets will be sold at six places in Dhaka- Kamalapur, Kamalapur suburban platform, Airport rail station, Tejgaon railway station, Cantonment, Fulbaria (Old Railway Station) and in six places in Joydevpur. Each passenger will be able to buy maximum four tickets. Also read: Traders urged to keep market stable ahead of Eid-ul-Azha The minister said six pairs of special trains will operate on this occasion and their rickets will be sold at the counters only. The total number of seats of trains departing from Dhaka per day  is 26,731, half of which will be available at ticket counters and half online. There will be no off day of intercity trains from July 4, six days before Eid to the day before Eid. No intercity train will operate on the Eid day, said the minister. Depending on the sighting of the moon, the holy Eid-ul-Azha is expected to be celebrated on July 10.

The Bangladesh Railway authority formed two separate committees to probe the fire incident on intercity train Parabat Express at Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar. “Each committee has four members and they have been asked to submit reports within three days after investigating the cause of fire and damages from it,” said Jahangir Hossain, General Manager of Bangladesh Railway East Zone. Read: Fire on moving train: Dhaka-Sylhet rail communication restored after 3 hours He said one of the committees is divisional and another is zonal. “The two committees will be led by Chief Commercial Manager of Bangladesh Railway East Zone and Chief Mechanical Engineer of Bangladesh Railway East Zone,” he added. The fire broke out at the power car or restaurant car of the moving train around 12:45 pm when it reached near Shamshernagar Air Base and disrupted the rail communication on Dhaka-Sylhet route on Saturday. After more than three hours it was restored at 4 pm as the inter-city train “Parabat Express” left for Sylhet. At first the locals tried to douse the flames and later firefighting units of Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, Srimangal and Kulaura rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze. Read: Fire breaks out at moving ferry, doused quickly Abu Bakkar, sub-inspector of Shamshernagar Railway Station, said three compartments of the train were gutted during the fire. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the authorities concerned managed to stop the train in time.  

Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) Shafiqul Islam, who was suspended for fining three ticketless travellers and then the suspension order was withdrawn amid criticism, was not found guilty, said a probe body on Monday. The three-member committee submitted the probe report on Monday and Pakshi divisional railway manager (DRM) Shahidul Islam received it around 11:20 am. Shafiqul, who works at Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshey Division, was suspended on May 6, a day after he fined three individuals for travelling in an air conditioned coach without tickets claiming that they were relatives of the railway minister. Also read: TTE suspension: Railway minister embarrassed by his wife’s involvement Angered by the fine the three lodged a complaint to the railway authorities accusing the TTE of “misbehaving” with them. The suspension of the TTE in which the railway minister’s wife reportedly had a role touched off widespread criticism on the social media with Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) calling on the minister to leave office to allow a fair investigation into the incident. On May 7, the Railway authorities formed a three-member committee to look into the incident. Headed by Pakshey Division assistant transport officer (ATO) Sajedul Islam, the two other members of the committees were—assistant Executive engineer Shipon Ali and assistant commandant Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal. Also read: TIB condemns suspension of TTE, says Railways Minister should resign Meanwhile, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on May 8, said the order to suspend TTE will be withdrawn, amid call for his resignation for the unfair action against the TTE. He also said that he felt embarrassed by the phone call his newly married wife made to a railway official getting involved in the incident.

The workers at Saidpur Railway Workshop in Nilphamari district are unusually busy this year ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, racing to finish 50 new bogies that will be pressed into operation during the holidays to ensure smooth travels for the homebound people. Rail communication is an important way to keep the country of over 170 million moving, especially when it comes to inter-district travel that peaks over the Eid holidays. A bogie is a structure underneath a railway vehicle body to which axles and wheels are attached through bearings. The workers are working round the clock to meet their target. Besides, the authorities concerned also cancelled leave of the workers to ensure they finish the task. During a recent visit to the GOH, production machine shop, carriage shop, wheel shop, bogie shop and CHR shop of the factory, our Nilphamari correspondent found them toiling relentlessly. The workers joined in their workplace around 7am and finished their work around 5pm in 24 departments of the factory. Read: DMP Commissioner asks city police to step up vigilance during Eid shopping Some were seen busy colouring the bogies, some in making bogies, some making parts, some repairing wheels, some doing work with welding machines and some were seen repairing seats of the coaches. Already 30 bogies have been handed over to Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshi and Lalmonirhat divisions. Moreover, all the workers were working enthusiastically. Rezaul Islam, a worker of production machine shop, said “We joined at work around 7 am and left the place around 5 pm and during this period we get only 30 minutes break. But we are happy. Generally, the working time here is from 7 am to 4 pm but we are working here till 5 pm to finish our work in time.”

Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets on April 23 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Advance train tickets of April 27 will be available on April 23, Additional Director General (Operation) of Bangladesh Railway Sardar Shahadat told UNB. The advance tickets of April 28, 29, 30 and May 1 will be available on April 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively. Also read: No launch ticket without NID cards during Eid: Khalid Besides, the selling of return tickets will begin from the second day of Eid-ul-Fitr, he said. Details about the selling of advance train tickets will be known after a meeting on April 13. Also read: Online train ticket sale to resume from 6 pm Friday for March 26