Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train will start operation by September this year, said Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan on Tuesday. The Minister revealed the information at the iconic station building in Cox’s Bazar during a visit to Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line construction work. Also Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link: 75% complete, on course for June 2024 handover He said, "Among the ten priority projects of the government, two are currently underway in the railway sector. The first one is the Padma bridge rail link project, and the second is Dohazari-Cox's Bazar new rail line construction project." Responding to questions regarding the potential challenges posed by the Kalurghat bridge, the minister assured that an expert team is diligently working on the renovation of the bridge. Also Read: Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line to open this year: Railways Minister He said, "We have taken steps to renovate the bridge based on the recommendations of the expert team. There will be no obstacles to operating train once the necessary renovations are complete." The Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway construction project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), involves the construction of a new 101 km dual gauge single line connecting Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu. Once completed, it will be connected with the Trans-Asian Railway Corridor.    

The new ticketing system for inter-city rail services has started today (March 01, 2023) from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station.   “We introduced the new ticketing system for passengers to address complaints regarding ticketing,” Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said. He said this while handing over POS (point of sale) machines that will facilitate collecting fares through national identity (NID) card verification.   “We took this initiative to stop black marketing, and to enable customers to purchase tickets without any complication,” he said. Also Read: 3 new services in railway ticketing management to be launched from March 1: Minister This new system will also enable commuters to cancel their purchase without coming to the station. Commuters will be able to cancel a purchase online from now on. The minister also said they will introduce more facilities gradually. “Passengers won’t be allowed to purchase tickets without registering,” he added. The new ticketing system will be introduced in local trains gradually. Through this, legal steps will be taken against those who travel using another person’s ticket, he said, adding that the government can collect the fare directly. Read More: 3 new services in railway ticketing management to be launched from March 1: Minister A total of 100 POS machines were handed over today.

Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan on Sunday said the railway link on Akhaura-Agartala route between Bangladesh and India will be opened in June next year. “The rail communication between Akhaura and Agartala is important for both countries and once the rail link opens, trade between the two countries will be expanded, and people of the two countries can travel easily via railway,” he said while talking to reporters after visiting the Zero Point area along Agartala. Replying to a question, Sujon said, “Most of the work of the rail line has been completed and the rest will be finished soon before June.” Read more: Akhaura-Agartala rail: Minister unhappy with slow progress Asked about the Akhaura-Laksham railway project, the minister said the progress of the project is satisfactory and the 17 km rail line of the project will be opened for the public within January 15. The Akhaura-Agartala Rail Line project is being built with the financial assistance of India and the overall progress of the project is 67 percent. The length of the Bangladesh section from Agartala to Akhaura is 6.8 km. Read more: Akhaura-Agartala railway to be inaugurated in 2021: Indian High Commissioner

No decision has been taken yet about the increase of the railway fare, said Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon on Tuesday. “After the price hike of fuel, we are thinking about the increase of rail fare as already many organisations have coordinated the price with the fuel price. Still we do not take any decision,” he said while visiting the Joydebpur Rail Junction. Read: Proposal to double launch fares denied The 30-,kilometer four-rail line work from Kamalapur to Tongi and 12-kilometer double rail line work from Tongi-Joydebpur, involving Tk 1300 crore, have been going on in full swing. The double rail tracks from Gazipur’s Tongi to Joydebpur will be operational in December this year, said Railway Sujon. He also visited the construction works of double rail tracks from Tongi to Joydebpur.

Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Monday said the number of vacancies in the railways is 22,604. The information was given in response to a tabled question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Noakhali Mamunur Rashid Kiran. The minister said the total number of vacant posts in the railways is 22,604.  Of these, 201 is first class, 1601 is second class, 8565 is third class and 12,328 is fourth class. The minister said that out of these vacancies, the ministry has sent demand to the PSC for 14 first class and 554 second class posts. Also read: CHT to be brought under railways network Clearance for 7351 posts for third and fourth class has been given. Of these, job vacancies for 441 posts of third class and 2812 posts of fourth class have been given.  The recruitment test for ALM Grade-2 and Guard Grade 2 posts will be held on June 18. In response to another question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Dhaka Haji Selim's question, the railway minister  said that the size of unused land of the railway is 10,843.15 hectares.  Initiatives have been taken to bring these unused lands under fencing, he said. The minister said that some unused lands of the railways and vacant lands in residential areas are illegally occupied. “These illegal occupants will be evicted gradually, every month eviction drive is being conducted,” the minister said. Also read: Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar train service to open by June, 2023: Railways Minister Replying to a question by Workers Party lawmaker in reserved women seat Begum Lutfun Nesa Khan, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that dope test has been made compulsory in the case of issue and renewal of professional driving license from January 30, 2022.  “License is not being renewed or issued if the dope test report is positive or has negative comments.”  Quader, in reply to a question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Dhaka Benazir Ahmed said that till now (May 2022) the toll collection of Bangabandhu Bridge is Tk. 7,135.65 crore and toll collection of Muktarpur Bridge is Tk 183.81 crore. Responding to a question from ruling party MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif,  Quader said that according to the Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study (DHUTS) report (2010), there is 10.48 percent roads in the two city corporations of Dhaka.  Plans have been taken to build a well-connected inner ring road around the Dhaka metropolis, he added.

The train service from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar be opened in June next year, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Sunday. “We have come a long way and hope all the work will be completed in this period,” said the minister at the signing ceremony of ‘Signaling and telecommunication system at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Railway Bridge’ at Railway House of the capital. Meanwhile, he said the railways couldn’t get rid of the ticket black marketing. “That is why we have taken many steps. Now, the responsibility has been given to the new organisation (Shohoz.com). It's only been two-three months, we will have to wait and see how much we get from their service.” "We have also taken steps to alleviate ticket black marketing," the minister said. Project objectives On April 3, 2011, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of meter gauge railways from Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar and Ramu-Ghumdhum. There will be nine stations along the 128-km rail route, located at Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulahazara, Eidgaon, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhia and Ghumdhum. It will feature modern computer-based interlock signals and digital telecommunication systems. Once complete, it will connect with the Trans-Asian Railway Corridor. An overriding objective of the project is to bring tourist haven Cox's Bazar under the railway network, making it more accessible for tourists from abroad who may prefer to head there straight after landing in Dhaka, as well as encouraging local tourism by providing stressed out residents of the capital with a safe, comfortable, affordable and environmentally-friendly option for weekend breaks. If this project is implemented, a safe, comfortable and affordable communication system will be developed for tourists and local people. There will also be significant cargo movement on the line. Fish, salt, paper raw materials, forest and agricultural products can all be easily transported at a convenient cost. Also read: Dhaka-Bhanga train service through Padma Bridge to open by June, 2023: Railways Minister

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 order to suspend a train ticket checker for fining three ticketless travellers on Dhaka-bound “ Sundarban Express” will be withdrawn , Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said on Sunday 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. “A probe has already been ordered to into the matter and how they (the ticketless travellers) lodged a written complaint so quickly,” he told reporters  at Rail Bhaban.  “Action against those responsible will be taken after the investigation,” he said adding a show-cause notice has been issued against Nasir Uddin, Pakshi divisional railway commercial officer (DCO) to explain why he suspended the travelling ticket examiner (TTE) Shafiqul Islam. READ: Not involved in TTE suspension, passengers were not my relatives: Sujan Shafiqul, who works at Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshey Division, was suspended on Friday, 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. 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. Talking to reporters on Saturday the minister denied that the ticketless travellers are his relatives. A day later on Sunday he changed his statement though. Replying to a question over denying the passengers as his relatives, the minister said “Now I have come to know that those who were travelling by the train are relatives of my wife.”  “Since I got married for the second time nine months ago I had to talk to my wife for their identity. Until Saturday I was totally unaware of it,” he added. “My wife complained about the ‘misbehavior’ of the TTE but did not talk about the suspension. Whatever she did without informing me was not right and it embarrassed me,” he said. Responding another question whether Bangladesh Railway should award the TTE Sujan said may be he would be awarded or promoted. Earlier on Saturday, the minister claimed to have no involvement in the suspension of a TTE Shafiqul Islam, over “misbehaving with passengers”.  On Friday, news broke of a TTE on a train being suspended for fining three people claiming to be railway minister’s relatives who were travelling without tickets. The TTE was said to have been suspended over a phone call without being given a chance to even defend himself.  Sujan also claimed that he is not aware of the suspension of the railway official.       Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the suspension of  a TTE. TIB in a press release on Saturday said that “As such a situation has arisen involving the Railway Minister and the ticketless passengers used his identity, he should resign from his position temporarily for the sake of a fair and impartial investigation into the incident.”

Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan has claimed to have no involvement in the suspension of a Travel Ticket Examiner (TTE), Shafiqul Islam, over “misbehaving with passengers”. He also denied that the passengers were his relatives. On Friday, news broke of a TTE on a train being suspended for fining three people claiming to be Railway Minister’s relatives who were travelling without tickets. The TTE was said to have been suspended over a phone call without being given a chance to even defend himself. “No relatives of mine were involved with the incident. I have no relationship with the passengers involved in the incident. Some opportunists have tried to take advantage by selling my name,” Sujan told UNB on Saturday. Also read: TIB condemns suspension of TTE, says Railways Minister should resign Expressing his firm stance on behalf of the offenders being brought to book, the minister said, “No one involved with the incident will be spared even if passengers without tickets are related to me. Similarly, if a railway official commits any misdeed with the passengers, he will also have to face the same music.” Sujan also claimed that he is not aware of the suspension of the railway official.      “I heard about the incident last night from higher officials of the ministry. Authorities have taken departmental action against the concerned official after a written complaint by the passengers. If he (suspended TTE) can respond properly, then he will be awarded,” the minister said.    He also said that TTEs often harass the passengers and do misbehave with them, which tarnishes the image of the railways. Usually the ministry cannot take action against the accused TTEs due to manpower shortage, added the minister. 

Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Tuesday hinted that Dhaka-Bhanga rail link through the Padma Bridge can  be launched on 16 December 2022 if things go smoothly. “It will be impossible to install the tracks within June 2022 if the bridge authorities do not hand over the work to railway within December 2021 or January 2022.” “If bridge and rail operation cannot begin together, we will try to start rail operation on Dhaka-Bhanga route from December 2022," he added. Read: Padma Bridge: Installation of all roadway slabs completed The minister was talking to the press following inspection of the rail link project at both ends of the Padma Bridge on Tuesday morning. Railway Secretary Selim Reza, Director General of Railways Dhirendranath Majumder, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project Director Md Afzal Hossain were also present during the visit.