Lalmonirhat-Burimari: Lalmonirhat-Burimari

Train service on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari rail route remained suspended for five days due to a blockade on the rail line enforced by locals.

They had been observing a railway blockade at Patgram Railway Station since Monday, and were still continuing during the filing of this report yesterday, demanding direct service of the Burimari Express from Burimari Railway Station to Dhaka.

Meher Ali, a passenger speaking at Burimari Railway Station, said there are 13 stations on the 84-kilometre Lalmonirhat-Burimari rail route and four passenger trains usually operate on it every day.

He added that passengers in the area always travel by train safely at a low cost. But since the train service has been suspended, they have been spending more money travelling on the roads.

Patgram Railway Station Master Noor Alam said locals and regular passengers enforced the blockade, demanding that the intercity train Burimari Express run directly from Burimari to Dhaka.

According to the blockaders, the Burimari Express started its operation directly from Burimari on March 12 last year. But a day later, on March 13, it started operating from Lalmonirhat Railway Station. Since then, passengers from Burimari have been travelling to Lalmonirhat via a shuttle train to board the Burimari Express.

Patgram Sangram Unnayan Parishad's President ATJ Siddiqui said the railway authorities earlier promised to start the service from Burimari to Dhaka several times, but it has not been implemented.

"The blockade programme will continue until our demands are met," he said.

Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway Commercial Officer Abdullah Al Mamun said that preparations are underway to resume direct train service from Burimari to Dhaka.

"For this, many arrangements have to be made. Work is ongoing. But the locals are continuously blocking the railway route without giving time to the railway authorities," he said.

"We have informed the higher authorities of the matter. Next steps will be taken accordingly once they make the decision," he added.