NID to be required to get rail tickets: Railway minister

Bangladesh Railway has made national identify (NID) cards compulsory for passengers to buy tickets in a bid to prevent black marketing of tickets and fine those who will travel without tickets.

Rail minister Nurul Islam Sujon disclosed this at a press conference at Rail Bhaban on Wednesday.

The railway minister said Bangladesh Railway has included three services in the ticketing system, which would be effective from 1 March. The services include installing the Point of Cell (POC) machine to check tickets and facilitating the return of online tickets.    

The railway minister said they have brought some changes in the ticketing system in a bid to build a 'Smart Bangladesh'. The initiative has been taken to increase the facilities for the passengers.