‘27,000 train tickets to be sold every day ahead of Eid’

Railways minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Wednesday said sales of advance train tickets will begin on 22 May and around 27,000 tickets to be sold every day.

“Eight pairs of special trains will run on different routes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr,” he told a press briefing held at the Rail Bhaban on Wednesday, reports UNB.

The trains are: Dewanganj Eid Special, Chandpur Eid Special (2 pairs), Khulna Eid Special, Ishwardi Eid Special, Lal Moni Eid Special, Sholakia Special-1 and Sholakia Special-2.

Bangladesh Railway will start selling advance train tickets on 22 May which will continue till 26 May while the sale of return tickets will begin on 29 May and continue till 2 June, said the minister.

Tickets for 31 May journey will be available on 22 May while for 1 June on 23 May, for 2 June on 24 May, for 3 June on 25 May and for 4 June on 26 May. Besides, the return tickets for 7, 8,9,10 and 11 June will be available on 29, 30, 31 May, 1 and 2 June respectively, said Nurul Islam Sujon.

Besides, for the first time the advanced train tickets for Eid-ul-Fitr will be sold from different counters and stations, he added.

Tickets of all trains to the country's western destinations will be sold from Kamalapur Railway Station while tickets for Chattogram and Noakhali from Airport Railway Station, tickets of Mymensingh and Jamalpur from Tejgaon Station, tickets for Netrakona-bound Mohonganj and Haor Express from Banani station while tickets for Sylhet and Kishoreganj from Old Rail Bhaban in Fulbaria area.

The minister also said that a person or passenger will be allowed to buy highest four tickets. Freight train will remain shut before and after Eid.

There will be no day off for any intercity train from 31 May (five days before Eid), he said adding that 50 per cent of the tickets will be sold through apps.

The minister also revealed that a new intercity train will be launched on Dhaka-Panchagarh-Dhaka route from 25 May.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is likely inaugurate the train from Ganabhaban through video conference.

He also said that two cranes have been bought from Germany which will arrive at port by Friday.