Railway authorities launch fully online advance ticket sales from Wednesday

Advance train ticket sales for the Eid-ul-Azha season will begin on Wednesday, with Bangladesh Railway introducing a 100 percent online system for both advance and return journeys.

Rail authorities have also decided to operate five pairs of special trains and three cattle-special services to ease passenger pressure during the festive rush.

According to a schedule released on Tuesday, tickets for May 23 journeys will be sold on May 13.

Similarly, tickets for May 24, 25, 26 and 27 journeys will be released on May 14, 15, 16 and 17.

For the return journey, tickets will be sold online from May 21 to May 25 for travel dates of May 31 and Jun 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Tickets for May 28, 29 and 30 journeys will be sold later depending on the sighting of the Eid crescent, officials said.

The decisions were finalised at a preparatory meeting on May 5 focused on ensuring smooth travel, maintaining law and order, and preventing sabotage and black-market ticket sales.

Special Train Schedule

Under the special arrangements, the Chattogram–Chandpur route will operate “Chandpur Eid Special-1” and “2”.

Special-1 is scheduled to depart Chattogram at 3:30pm and arrive in Chandpur at 8:20pm, while Special-2 will leave Chandpur at 4am and reach Chattogram at 8:50am.

On the Dhaka–Dewanganj route, “Teesta Special-3” will leave Dhaka at 9:30am and arrive at 4:10pm, while “Teesta Special-4” will depart Dewanganj at 4:30pm and reach Dhaka at 11:20pm.

Four “Sholakia Eid Special Services” will operate on Bhairab Bazar–Kishoreganj and Mymensingh–Kishoreganj routes, running only on Eid day.

The Joydebpur–Parbatipur “Eid Special-9” will leave at 7pm, while “Special-10” will operate in reverse after Eid.

Cattle Special Services

As in previous years, three cattle trains will operate on specific routes.

“Cattle Special-1” will depart Dewanganj on May 22 at 6pm and reach Dhaka, Tejgaon or Cantonment at 5:50am on May 23.

“Special-2” will leave Islampur at 3:30pm on May 22 and arrive at 1:40am on May 23.

“Special-3” will depart Dewanganj on May 23 at 6pm and reach Dhaka at 5:50am on May 24.

Authorities also reiterated bans on roof travel, illegal cattle markets near rail lines, and unauthorised ticket sales, while calling for coordinated security measures involving police and local administration.