Panchagarh Express intercity train starts journey today
Panchagarh and Thakurgaon people are cheerful as Bangladesh Railway is launching a nonstop intercity train service on Dhaka-Panchagarh route today.
Khandakar Shahidul Islam, general manager of West Zone of Bangladesh Railway, told this correspondent that the train will be a new addition to the existing two intercity trains -- Drutojan Express and Ekata Express -- on the route.
The train will start from Panchagarh at 1:15pm and reach Kamalapur Railway Station by 10:35pm, and will leave Dhaka at 12:10am and reach Panchagarh at 9:40am.
Once the train service is launched, passengers will be able to travel to Rajshahi from Dhaka around one and a half hours earlier than the current travel time.
This is the fourth nonstop train; currently two trains are plying the Dhaka-Chattogram route, and one is plying Rajshahi-Dhaka route.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will launch the service through videoconference from Dhaka today at 11:30am, said Panchagarh DC Sabina Yasmin.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan will attend the inauguration programme at Panchagarh.
The train will stop at Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Parbatipur, Dhaka Airport and Kamalapur railway stations.
Advocate Ershad Hossain, general secretary of Panchagarh Nagorik Committee, said they would like to thank the government for taking steps to run the train on the largest rail track in Bangladesh. The initiative will speed up communication between the capital and northern most districts.
Habibul Islam Bablu, president of Thakurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the service will play an important role to flourish economic activities in the districts.
Meanwhile, with an aim to raise awareness about hurling stones at windowpanes of trains, district unit of Bangladesh Awami Sechhasebak League formed a human chain yesterday at Thakurgaon intersection.
To make journeys safe, the participants urged people to be vigilant against such practice that puts people’s lives at serious risk.
On May 5, Jishan, a four-year-old, and his mother received injuries to their heads as miscreants hurled stones at Padma Express.
The Railways Act issues maximum life imprisonment for hurling stones at trains with the intention of harming passengers.
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