Bangladesh Railway has decided to sell more than 70,000 advance tickets per day ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
The sale of advance tickets will start on May 22 and continue till May 26 to reduce hassle-free Eid journey for holidaymakers. A passenger can buy maximum 4 tickets by a NID and special train services aren’t included in such initiatives.
Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon said: “Eid holidaymakers can buy advance train tickets using a mobile app and a total of sixteen special trains will carry passengers out during the Eid holidays, starting from June 2 to June 4. The trains will return to the capital from different districts from June 6 to June 12.”
While addressing a press briefing at Railway Bhaban on Wednesday (May 15) the minister also said Bangladesh Railway will start selling the advance Eid-ul-Fitr train tickets from May 22, and will continue till May 26.
The advance tickets will be sold at five different places in Dhaka — Kamalapur station, Airport railway station, Tejgaon railway station, Banani railway station, and Fulbaria (Old Railway Bhaban), said the minister.
The minister added that the expected date of Eid-ul-Fitr is June 5. So, tickets for May 31 will be available on May 22, for June 1 on May 23, for June 2 on May 24, for June 3 on May 25, and tickets for June 4 will be available on May 26. Around 27,000 tickets are expected to be sold on each day.
“The advance return ticket sales will start on May 29 and continue until June 2,” he added
Passengers may purchase return tickets for June 7 on May 29, for June 8 on May 30, for June 9 on May 31, for June 10 on June 1, and for June 11 on June 2.
To prevent ticket black-marketing and subversive activities, BGB, police and Rapid Action Battalion, along with the railway police, will be deployed at several stations, said the minister.
He also informed that the railway department has suspended all day-offs of its officials for five days from May 31, and the railway authorities will operate 48 extra trips during the holidays.
The minister added that Maitree Express, which runs on the Dhaka-Kolkata route, will not operate on June 3 and 4. On May 29, a new train service will be launched on the Dhaka-Panchagarh route, called the Panchagarh Express, which will have no other stoppages.
Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the new train service from Ganabhaban on May 25. Tickets will be available to reduce hassle for passengers and they will not have to wait in line for hours.”
Bangladesh Railway’s special Eid services
According to the railway ministry-- eight pairs of special trains are Dhaka-Dewanganj-Dhaka route, Dewanganj Eid Special (1 pair), Chittagong-Chandpur-Chittagong route on Chandpur Eid Special (2 pairs),
Khulna-Dhaka-Khulna Rack with coordination with Rack Eid special, Ishwadi Eid special on Dhaka-Ishwardi-Dhaka route, Lalmonirhat-Dhaka-Lalmonirhat route, Lalmuni Eid special, Bhairab Bazar-Kishoreganj-Sholakia Speech on Bhairab Bazar route 1 and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj-Mymensingh route will Sholakia Special II. Among them, Sholakia Specials will serve the Eid day. During this time, all the underground trains have been canceled off-day.
The minister said that the eight pairs of special trains are Dhaka-Dewanganj-Dhaka route, Dewanganj Eid Special (1 pair), Chittagong-Chandpur-Chittagong route on Chandpur Eid Special (2 pairs), Khulna-Dhaka-Khulna Rack with Alliance Rack Eid special, Ishwadi Eid special on Dhaka-Ishwardi-Dhaka route, Lalmonirhat-Dhaka-Lalmonirhat route, Lalmuni Eid special, Bhairab Bazar-Kishoreganj-Sholakia special on Bhairab Bazar route 1 and Mymensingh-Kishoreganj-Mymensingh route will Sholakia Special II.
Among them, Sholakia Specials will serve the Eid day. During this time, all the regular trains have been cancelled off-day.
