The Bangladesh Railway will provide transportation services with special trains to thousands of devotees attending the Bishwa Ijtema – the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj – scheduled to be held in two phases at Tongi from February 2-4 and 9-11.
Addressing a press conference at Rail Bhaban on Tuesday, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Kamrul Ahsan said, “On February 2 and 9 we will operate two trains on the Dhaka-Tongi route to carry devotees to attend Jummah prayers at the Ijtema ground.
“On February 3 and 10, there will be one special train from Jamalpur to Tongi.”
Present at the brief, newly appointed Railways Minister Md Zillul Hakim said, “We will try our best to offer smooth transportation services to the Bishwa Ijtema devotees to the Ijtema ground and back home.”
Humayun Kabir, secretary at the Ministry of Railways, was also there.
Providing more details on the arrangement centring Bishwa Ijtema, the railway DG said, “On the Akheri Munajat day on February 4 and 11 the railway will operate several special trains from different routes to Tongi.
“From Dhaka, in the morning, five special trains will go to Tongi starting from 5:30am and the last train will leave Kamalapur at 7:20am. After offering Akheri Munajat the trains will be back to Dhaka with the devotees. There will be a train from Narayanganj from Dhaka as well.”
Ahsan added that the railway will operate a special train on Tongi-Mymensingh route as well after the Munajat. There will be one special train on Tongi-Tangail route and another on Tongi-Ishwardi route.
Besides, from February 1 to 4, the Railway all mail, commuter and intercity and commuter train to Dhaka will stop at Tongi station for three minutes to facilitate the devotees.
On February 4 and 11 all intercity non-stop trains except Suborno Express, Sonar Bangla Express, and Cox’s Bazar express and Parjatak Express will stop for three minutes at Tongi Railway Station.
Railway authorities will change the operation timing of the Balaka Commuter train. On February 4 and 11 will leave at 5pm, while Silk City will ply on those days, and Banalata Express will be out of service, he mentioned.
The Bangladesh Railway will add extra coaches with most of the trains to carry more passengers to the Ijtema ground and back to Dhaka. At the stations, there will be additional Railway staff to assist the passengers.
The railway DG said, “Before the national polls, we had taken additional security measures to secure the trains, station and rail tracks which will be continued till the Ijtema ends.
“There will be 2700 Ansar members who are working with the Railway Nirapatta Bahini and police will be on the field.”
He added, “There will be additional numbers of law enforcers at Kamalapur Railway Station, Tejgaon, cantonment and Biman Bandar stations. There will be patrolling teams for tracks and bridges from Narayanganj to Tangail.
“There will be doctors at the stations for primary treatment. The BR will deploy staff as mobile ticket sellers at the stations as well.”
