Evicted hawkers reoccupy rail tracks in Nilphamari

Only three months after eviction, hawkers have again set up scores of makeshift shops of second-hand warm clothes next to the railway tracks near Saidpur rail station, creating the risk of accidents.

In the third week of September, railway authorities launched a drive against the illegal occupants of railway tracks prior to a visit by the railway minister to give him a positive impression of uninterrupted rail service in the railway town of Saidpur.

At that time, about 300 makeshift shops were removed from both sides of the rail lines stretching for one km from Saidpur rail station towards Parbatipur railway junction.

Sources in Bangladesh Railway's (BR) West Zone said Railway Minister Mujibul Huque visited Saidpur on September 29 to see the country's largest railway workshop and other infrastructures.

BR sources in Saidpur said fourteen intercity and local passenger trains arrive at and depart from Saidpur rail station every day, and old or damaged bogies come to the workshop for repairs, making the area a busy place.

Presence of the makeshift market in a risky place earlier led to several casualties, locals said.

Only a week ago, an old man was cut into two pieces as a running train dashed him while he was walking past the rail track without noticing the approaching train.

On a visit to the area on Sunday, this correspondent saw that occupants spread polythene or jute bags on rail tracks to make their makeshift shops and second hand warm clothes are kept there in piles.

Hundreds of poor people, including women and children, crowd the place to buy warm clothes, and traders and customers run to and fro with bundles of clothes to go to safer places when a train passes by.

Meraj Hossain, a trader, said they are compelled to sit on the rail tracks as they are poor and can't afford to rent a shop in any market.

Mokbul Hossain, a loco master (train driver) said operating trains through Saidpur town is risky as there are hundreds of shops on or around the rail lines and the place is full of customers.

Ward Commissioner of Saidpur municipality Ershad Hossain Pappu said they were trying to rehabilitate the traders in a suitable place.

Stationmaster Abul Kashem said setting up of shops and movement of pedestrians within 20 feet of both sides of the rail tracks are unlawful as per existing rail law, but a section of people do not care about it.

Officer-in-Charge of Saidpur Railway Police Station Lutfor Rahman said, "We'll continue eviction drive off and on until the area is completely free from the occupants."