Faced with acute manpower shortage and other problems, authorities of West Zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR) have closed down 16 railway stations out of a total 31 in Santahar-Lalmonirhat section during the last couple of months, much to the sufferings of local passengers.

Authorities shut down Mohimaganj station last month as its lone stationmaster is going to retire this month, railway sources said.

During the last three months, the department shut down eleven other stations -- Mohendra Nagar, Annada Nagar, Chowdhurani, Naldanga, Trimohoni, Badiakhali, Mohimaganj, Bhelurpara, Kahalu, Altaf Nagar and Nasratpur.

Earlier, the BR authorities shut down five single track stations at Hasanganj, Kuptola, Salmara, Syed Ahmed College and Panchpir Mazar.

Now only 15 railway stations in this section are operational.

Those are Lalmonirhat, Teesta, Kawnia, Pirgachha, Bamondanga, Kamarpara, Gaibandha, Bonarpara, Sukhanpukur, Gabtoli, Bogra, Talora, Adamdighi and Santahar, said Abul Kashem, stationmaster of Gaibandha railway station.

"It needs ten employees including three stationmasters, two porters, four point men and a sweeper for smooth functioning of a station, but several stations are running with only three to four employees. Quite a few employees will go to retirement by next month. If the vacant posts are not filled up, it will be hard to continue operation of the existing stations," he added.

Mostafizur Rahman, divisional traffic superintendent of railway in Lalmonirhat, said, "Employees' recruitment procedure on different occasions remained suspended due to filing of cases. Now the problem is over and the department will recruit employees soon to solve the manpower crisis."