Lawful ticket holders suffer amid rampant ticketless travel
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Hours of waiting for trains, fear of snatching and pickpocketing at stations, along with crowds of ticketless passengers. Very few people who have traveled by train have not encountered such scenes. Rail passengers have long been frustrated by the situation.
Irregular train services and lengthy delays are a daily occurrence on various routes across the country, including the capital. Many passengers travel without tickets, causing severe inconvenience to those who have valid tickets.
A visit to Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station on Friday found passengers bound for various destinations waiting for trains for hours.
At the time, railway authorities said a wheel of a coach of the intercity Silk City Express, traveling from Rajshahi to Dhaka, derailed while entering Shahid M Mansur Ali Station in Sirajganj. The train was later stopped by pulling the emergency chain. As a result, rail communication between Dhaka and the northern region was temporarily disrupted.
Asma Akter, a passenger on the Kalni Express, said she had bought a ticket to travel to Brahmanbaria. The scheduled departure time of the train was 2:38 PM. However, even after 3 PM, the train had not arrived. According to her, this was not the first time. She has had to wait at the station for a long time almost every time.
Moniruzzaman, a passenger on the Silk City Express, expressed similar frustration. “He will travel to Sirajganj. As he could not get a ticket, he was waiting for a standing ticket. However, after learning that a coach of the train had derailed, his journey became uncertain.”
Meanwhile, Masum, who was waiting for the Upakul Express, said he would travel to Brahmanbaria. He said he was planning to board the train without buying a ticket, claiming that ticket examiners often do not come to the coaches. He also said that many others travel without tickets like him.
Regarding the matter, Kamalapur Railway Station Station Master Saidul Islam said the possible train operating times are being displayed on digital boards, and passengers are also being regularly informed through announcements over loudspeakers. Rail communication with the northern region has been disrupted due to the Silk City Express accident. Efforts are underway to recover the affected train. It has been announced that the train may reach Airport Station through Kamalapur at around 9 PM. Passengers who do not wish to travel are being given a full refund of their ticket fares.
Regarding traveling without tickets, he made it clear that no passenger is allowed to travel on a train without a ticket. Ticket examiners are assigned to every coach, and passengers cannot leave the destination station without a ticket either.
Passengers are facing another problem while staying at stations for long periods because of train delays. They allege that the activities of pickpockets and members of criminal groups who drug passengers have increased at the stations. Mobile phones, wallets and other valuables are being stolen by taking advantage of the crowds. At the same time, passengers fear that there are incidents in which everything is stolen after intoxicating substances are mixed into food or drinks.
Waiting passengers complained that they have to remain on the platforms for hours because trains do not arrive at the scheduled time. On the other hand, lawful ticket holders are also facing various difficulties because of ticketless passengers.
Passengers demanded that authorities take immediate steps to strictly follow train schedules, take effective action against ticketless passengers and strengthen security at stations. Otherwise, the suffering of rail passengers will increase further.
The Station Master of Airport Railway Station said railway police are responsible for security at the station. Mobile courts are regularly conducted. Anyone entering the station without a ticket or platform ticket is fined. In addition, posters and billboards have been installed at various locations around the station to alert passengers, and announcements are made regularly.
However, passengers are not satisfied with the security measures. Shahanaz, a passenger traveling to Rajshahi, said, “I am even afraid to take out my mobile phone or wallet at the station. I have to remain afraid that someone might suddenly snatch it and run away.”
