Special train for cattle

Bangladesh Railway (BR) will use trains to carry sacrificial animals to different regions ahead of Eid-ul Ahza to facilitate cattle traders.

BR has taken the move following the request of the fisheries and livestock ministry, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said while speaking at a press briefing at the Rail Bhaban yesterday.

"We will operate freight trains on demand from cattle traders," he said, adding that each wagon would be able to carry 16 to 20 cattle and fares of each wagon would around Tk 33,000 or 34,000.

"It's safer than any other mode of transport," he added.Traders from Kushtia, Chuadanga, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Natore, Jamalpur and Mymensingh would get the benefit, he said.

Mia Jahan, additional director general of BR, said they last carried cattle in 2008, bringing them from Jamalpur's Dewanganj to Dhaka.

Currently, apart from freight trains, 17 intercity passengers' trains are now in operation with 50 percent of capacity to maintain health safety guidelines.

BR resumed operation from May 31 after more than two months to contain spread of Covid-19 in the country.