Bhelurpara Railway Station now a faded memory
Bhelurpara, an 82-year-old railway station, is now only a faded memory but there were times when it was full of life.
The important station between Bonatapara to Santahar railway junctions in Sonatola upazila was even a crowded place before it was shut down in 2009, said locals.
According to Bogura railway authorities, the station was built in 1937. Locals used to travel different parts of the country.
They transported jute, paddy, chili and other agricultural goods every day and their livelihoods depended on the station.
But after closing of the station, it wore a deserted look and many became jobless as a number of local hotels, bazars, shops and other business establishments surrounding the station are shut down, said Afzal Hossain, 65, an elderly resident of Jorgacha Noyapara village.
With low transport cost of Tk 7 only, they sent a sack of chili to Bogura from Bhelurpara station by train, but after closing of the station, they have to spend Tk 60 to Tk 70 fare to carry a sack of potato by road for the same 24 km distance, said Afzal.
Although some private -leased trains are operating and carrying passengers and goods from the station, their fare is more than doubled of the public trains, he said.
Mili Akter, 20, a college girl of nearby Dahpara village, said women passengers are not taking trains from the station over security concern as the waiting room and station office remained closed. It turned into a haunted place after daytime.
On a visit, this correspondent found furniture and block instruments of the station office almost damaged.
Local youth Riazul Islam, 26, who was waiting for last one hour to catch a local train to go to Bogura, said “As the station is closed and there is no one to tell you the schedules, we have to wait until the train come.”
Gatekeeper Shamim Sarkar at the station said at present they have only three staffers, including one gate keeper, one points man and a signal man.
Before the station was closed, there were two station masters, four points men, one porter and a sub-gatekeeper.
Bogura Railway Station Master Md Benzarul Islam said Bhelurpara Railway Station was shut down in 2009 due to lack of manpower.
They wrote to the higher authorities seeking sufficient manpower to reopen the station, he said.
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