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Following the success of operating eight intercity train services by abiding health guidelines, Bangladesh Railway (BR) is set to resume 11 more train services on Wednesday.
While the road and water transport services have not been maintaining the health guidelines strictly, BR has ensured disinfection measures at stations and in coaches, according to passengers.
Passengers who arrived at Kamalapur Railway Station also expressed satisfaction at the BR service which resumed during the relaxed lockdown period.
They also said they did not face any problem so far in purchasing tickets online.
According to BR, ticket sales on an average were 90 per cent for eight pairs of intercity trains.
Of these, four pairs will run to and from Dhaka and the rest will operate in western and eastern zones, including Khulna, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Chandpur, BR officials said.
Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, director general of Bangladesh Railway, today expressed his gratitude to officials and employees of the Ministry of Railways and BR for extending their support to ensure social distancing and hygiene.
When asked about the BR’s capacity to maintain the health protocol, Additional Director General (Operation) Mia Jahan said train timings have been set considering the time it takes to get prepared for ensuring health safety measures.
All trains are disinfected twice – on arrival and after reaching the destination, he added.
After visiting the Kamalapur Railway Station, FE correspondent found that four cleaning staffers were spraying disinfectant and cleaning the coaches.
They said around 13 staffers in each shift clean 16 compartments on an average.
After 67 days of suspension due to countrywide lockdown imposed on March 26, BR resumed its train service keeping 50 per cent seats unoccupied to maintain distances between passengers.
Ticket sales hit close to 100 per cent for most trains, BR officials added.