Half of Chuadanga rail stations shut down

The authorities have recently shut down five out of the ten railway stations in the district for lack of manpower.
The passenger service is also being hampered in running the remaining five railway stations due to inadequate staff.
Meanwhile, properties of the five closed down stations worth crores of taka are being stolen for lack of adequate security and proper upkeep.
According to railway sources, train service between Chuadanga and Kolkata started way back in 1866.
At that time railway line was set up to connect Darshana in Chuadanga with Jagati in Kushtia for carrying passengers and goods. Later, the line was expanded considering service to passengers. Since then people of this region had been traveling by train.
Although the people had been traveling by train in large numbers to avoid increasing road accidents causing so many deaths, the Bangladesh Railway authorities shut down Ansarbaria, Joyrampur, Gaidghat, Mominpur and Munshiganj railway stations of Chuadanga, locals alleged.
About 18 trains pass through the five closed down railway stations, but there are no linesman, pointsman and even a gateman. As a result, small accidents take place in these stations frequently.
Recently, illegal market and buildings have been constructed on government land of Joyrampur railway station in Chuadanga district.
A case was filed n this connection with Damurhuda police station against 8-10 people including two local Jubo league leaders. Still illegal grabbing of government land goes on, said sources.
Chuadanga station master Abdul Khaleq said only one or two railway staff are kept to take care of each of the five closed railway stations.
At present, 12 inter city trains and six mail trains run through these stations everyday while Dhaka-Kolkata Moitree train passes through these stations four days a week. Besides, goods trains also run regularly through these stations, he said.