Poor quality Iftar, Sehri meals served in intercity trains with higher prices: Jatri Kalyan Samity
Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Passengers are being charged exorbitant prices by providing substandard Sehri and Iftar meals on trains, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity said on Tuesday after visiting 14 intercity trains.
The association's Secretary General Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury made the allegation while citing an observation report sent to the Adviser to the Ministry of Railways Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan.
The report said that on the first and second days of Ramadan, members of the organization inspected the Sehri and Iftar supply services on the 14 intercity trains that included the Turna Nishita, Subarna Express, Teesta Express, Parabat Express, Jamuna Express, Kalni Express, Haor Express, Mohanganj Express, Chattala Express, Cox's Bazar Express, Mahanagar Godhuli, Ekta Express, Silk City Express, and Purtiyan Express trains.
It was found that substandard food and unfit Sehri were being supplied on almost all the trains. Due to negligence in packaging these Sehri, many foods were spoiled by the heat, and such Sehri food was seen being supplied to passengers on various trains, the association said in a statement.
In the mentioned trains, the catering organizations are not supplying the Iftar and Sehri ingredients in the quantity that is supposed to be provided.
Although it is mandatory for every train to display the price list of Sehri and Iftar provided by the Railways in a visible place for the passengers of each coach, it was not found in any of the trains mentioned in the observation.
Even the price list of Sehri and Iftar was not displayed in any of the train canteens, the association found during their inspection.
Although there is a rule to collect the price with a receipt, it has been seen that catering establishments are collecting the price of these meals without a receipt.
In addition, every catering establishment is charging an additional price to the price fixed by the Railway authorities in every train.
In this way, the interests of passengers are being severely damaged. Unable to eat substandard Sehri even at an additional price, most of the passengers have been seen throwing away the Sehri food, alleged the association.
In such a situation, to protect the interests of passengers, arrangements should be made to display the price list of Sehri and Iftar in a visible place in each coach of the train.
This organization, which is engaged in protecting passenger rights, has sought the intervention of the Railways Adviser to take necessary measures to provide quality and delicious food for Sehri and Iftar served on trains.