<i>Coolie looks after railway station, vendor sells ticket!</i>
Earlier working as a coolie of Bangladesh Railway (BR), Saiful Islam has been 'looking after' virtually closed Nilphamari College station for a few years as the BR is too understaffed to set any stationmaster or clerk there. Photo: STAR
Six of the 10 railway stations in Parbotipur-Chilahati railway section under Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR) have remained virtually closed for long due to manpower crisis. A coolie and an attendant now 'look after' two of the practically abandoned railway stations while a tea stall owner sells ticket at another station. Due to the situation, valuable rail equipment is being stolen while the government is deprived of revenue. The closed stations are Belaichondi, Khairat Nagar, Darwani, Nilphamari College, Taranibari and Mirzaganj on 61 kilometre railway line in this section. Only four station Saidpur, Nilphamari, Domar and Chilahati are still operational in the important railway line that can connect Saidpur Railway Workshop, Saidpur Airport, Uttara EPZ in Nilphamari Sadar and proposed Chilahati land port in Domar. Once crowded Nilphamari College station is almost abandoned now. "I have been working as a coolie at the station since 1988. I have also a betel leaf shop nearby. The only booking clerk posted here is working at Nilphamari station on deputation. In his absence I look after the station as he gives me some money for the work,” said Shaiful Islam, 40. Artaj Ali, an attendant at Taroni Bari station, told this correspondent that he looks after the station as none is posted there for long. A big station in this section is Darwani Railway station. The children of surrounding villages usually play cricket on the rail tracks in front of the station. The windows, doors, sitting arrangements of its big waiting room went missing long ago. As locals called in a man named Maijar Rahman from a nearby tea stall, he told this correspondent that he sells for commission tickets of a local train operated by a private company on contact with BR. “The only stationmaster posted here is also working at Mirzaganj and Belaichandi stations. He sometimes comes here by a train and leaves the station after a short time. In his absence I look after the station,” said Maijar. Mizanur Rahman, a local resident said some people introducing themselves as railway men unscrewed rail signals, points and other valuables and took those away a few years ago. They also tried to uproot portions of the double line railway near the station but locals prevented it. The big rail godown and its shade were sold in auction during the last BNP-led government, he added. Khairat Nagar station to the south of Darwani station is under lock and key and no railway man of any category paid a visit there in several years, locals said. Belaichondi and Mirzaganj stations are two other closed down stations in this section. Abdul Wahed Sarker, president of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said, "Passengers including the business community in this region like to use railway as it is still regarded as cheap and safe mode of transport. We have repeatedly urged the higher authorities to renovate the closed down rail stations and make them functional but to no effect.” "Forty railway stations including six of Parbotipur-Chilahati section under Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway are not in operation due to manpower shortage. The authorities recently started a recruitment process to appoint new employees to make the stations operational. A project is also under way to renovate the rail lines in this section," said AKM Mahbubul Alam, divisional manager of BR at Pakshi.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments