Human chain in C'nawabganj demands intercity train
Local citizens' committee forms a human chain in front of Shaheed Satu Hall in Chapainawabganj town yesterday demanding introduction of intercity train from the town, setting up of a bypass rail line at Amanura and protesting low quality repair work on Amanura-Chapainawabganj rail line.Photo: STAR
Several hundred people formed a human chain in front of Shaheed Satu Hall in the town yesterday demanding immediate introduction of intercity train service between Dhaka and Chapainawabganj. They also demanded construction of a railway bypass at Amnura junction and protested alleged low quality repair work from Amnura to Chapainawabganj railway station. Chapainawabganj Nagorik Unnayan Committee, a citizen's body for development of the district, organised the human chain followed by a rally. Leaders and workers of different political parties, representatives from professional bodies, cultural activists, social activists, teachers and students of different educational institutions joined the programme. Addressing the rally, the speakers said, the people of Chapainawabganj suffer a lot as they have to go to Rajshahi, some 50 kilometres away from the district town to travel to the capital by the intercity train. Railway authorities introduced intercity train service from Rajshahi to Dhaka at least 25 years ago but the people of Chapainawabganj are still deprived of it, they said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a rally here on April 23 this year declared that intercity train service between Dhaka and Chapainawabganj would be introduce soon. But no step has yet been taken in this regard, they said. They also rejected a proposal to introduce a shuttle train for Chapainawabganj people saying it would rather cause more sufferings to children, old aged people and patients. The speakers said the government sanctioned Tk 155.48 crore for repairing rail lines. Although the work began on March 18, 2010, no bypass rail line was constructed at Amnura junction. They alleged that the construction firm used low quality stone chips from Amnura to Chapainawabganj. Abdul Odud, lawmaker of Chapainawabganj-3 constituency told this correspondent that the rail authorities will introduce a shuttle train for Chapainawabganj on December 29 this year and later go for an intercity train. Earlier, Chapainawabganj Nagorik Unnayan Committee collected over 10,000 signatures and sent it to prime minister with a memorandum through the deputy commissioner on October 3, this year urging her to meet the demands.
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