Bangladesh Railway (BR) resumed operation of thirteen pairs of intercity trains from Sunday, raising the total number of trains on track to 30 pairs after a long suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 13 pairs of trains are——‘Parabat Express’, on Dhaka-Sylhet route, ‘Hawra Express’ on Dhaka-Mohanganj-Dhaka route, ‘Agnibina Express’ on Dhaka-Tarakandi-Dhaka route, ‘Padma Express’ on Dhaka-Rajshahi route, ‘Titumir Express’ on Rajshahi-Chilahati-Rajshahi route, ‘Mahanagar Express’ on Dhaka-Chattogram-Dhaka route, ‘Ekata Express’ on Panchagarh-Dhaka-Panchagarh route, ‘Sundarban Express’ on Khulna-Dhaka-Khulna route, ‘Bijoy Express’ on Chattogram-Mymensingh-Chattogram route, ‘Upukul Express’ on Dhaka-Noakhali-Dhaka route, ‘Shimanta Express’ on Khulna-Chilahati-Khulna route and ‘Tongipara Express’ on Gobra-Rajshahi-Gobra route.
Commuter trains will be operated on Dhaka-Dewanganj-Dhaka route.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan visited Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka around 10 in the morning to check on the overall situation of the railway services there.
During the visit, the minister talked to passengers and directed the station authorities to ensure proper health guidelines against the risks of Covid-19 infection.
To contain the spread of Covid-19, the government earlier suspended all of the train operations. However, trains started to hit the track with eight pairs of trains from May 31 and later the number was raised to 11 pairs on June 3.
According to the ministry information, some 362 trains run on different routes during normal circumstances. Of them, 102 are intercity trains, 260 are local, commuter and goods laden trains.
Earlier, the government on May 29 issued a gazette notification allowing limited operation of public transport and offices from May 31 to June 15 amid the coronavirus outbreak.
It said public transports – buses, trains, and vessels – will have to maintain health guidelines.
aa/sik/teb
