Tickets in scalpers' hands

Failing to collect advance train tickets from railway counters, Dhaka-bound passengers from Rajshahi are buying tickets from black markets at hefty prices.   

These people came to their village homes to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones.

The Rajshahi Railway Station authorities began selling advance tickets from August 25 and all tickets for September 4 to 10 were sold by September 1, said Ashim Kumar Talukhdar, divisional railway manager of West Zone of Bangladesh Railway.

Notices were hung at ticket counters of the station citing that tickets for September 4 to 10 were not available.

However, some of the passengers were able to buy tickets from the ticket scalpers ahead of the journeys. They alleged that the touts might have purchased the tickets, in connivance with some corrupt railway staff, to sell those later at higher prices. 

Golam Rabbani, a retired government officer, said he stood in a queue on August 26 for buying a ticket for September 6. His serial was 42, but all the 92 tickets were sold among the first 14 persons, he said. 

“Some of those who managed tickets were whispering to those who could not manage: meet on the day of journey, you will get tickets”, said Rabbani.

He could finally buy an AC chair ticket of Tk 677 at Tk 1,500, hours before the journey.

Talking to passengers, it was learnt that non-AC tickets of Tk 340 were being sold at Tk 700, TK 677 AC chair and Tk 782 AC cabin tickets at Tk 2,000; Tk 1,221 AC berth tickets were being sold at Tk 4,500.

Nazmul Haque in Sopura area could not collect tickets from designated counters, but he managed an AC chair ticket at Tk 2,000.

“Common people like me are able to find out those scalpers; it's absurd that law enforcers can't find them,” said Nazmul.

In this regard, Rajshahi Railway Station Superintendent Ziaul Haque said some people might have bought those tickets in the guise of passengers. 

However, Ashim Kumar Talukhdar said, “We have not received any report of ticket scalping.”

A mobile court was deployed at the station during the ticket sale, and BGB and police forces were also present at the station to check anomalies, he added.