Fewer trains may run due to lack of passengers: Railway

Bangladesh Railway (BR) will not increase the number of trains for now, rather it may reduce the number due to lack of passengers.

"We will not increase the number of trains for now. Rather we may drop two trains due to lack of passengers," Md Shamsuzzaman, director general of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star today.

He, however, declined to name the two trains as those were yet to be finalised.

Shamsuzzaman's comment came within hours after the Cabinet Division today issued a circular which said all public transport including bus, train, launches would be allowed to operate on limited scale until June 30.

Earlier on May 28, Cabinet Division announced to allow public transport from May 31 on limited scale and BR resumed train operation from the day after more than two months of suspension.

In first phase, eight inter-city trains resumed operations carrying passengers up to only 50 percent of their capacity. Eleven more trains were added to the fleet from June 3. Tickets for all trains are being sold online.

Earlier on May 30, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan told journalists, "All we are doing now is on trial basis. We will take further decisions about operation of trains following government decision after June 15."

Operation of trains were suspended on March 24, two days before the government announced closure of all offices and suspension of public transport to contain spread of Covid-19 in the country.