'Mango Special Train' to be launched on 10 June
Transporting mangoes from Rajshahi to Dhaka will cost only Tk1.43 per kg
The Bangladesh Railway will launch a 'Mango Special Train' service from Rajshahi to Dhaka on 10 June to transport mangoes at a low cost.
Transporting mangoes on the train from Rajshahi to Dhaka will cost Tk1.43 per kilogram, as announced at a seminar at Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner's office today.
The "Mango Special Train" was first launched in 2020 on the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the safe, low-cost and short-time transportation of mangoes through railways.
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Speakers at the seminar said the railway has transported 39,95,798 kilograms of mangoes earning revenues worth Tk46,29,140 during the last four years since 2020.
They said that although Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore districts produce 1.25 lakh tonnes of mangoes annually, only 4,000 tonnes of mangoes have been transported by train in the last four years.
Sharing their views, mango farmers, traders, entrepreneurs and exporters unequivocally called for solving the existing problems related to transportation of mangoes through railway to make the venture popular.
Railways Minister Md Zillul Hakim, attending the event as the chief guest, said they will make the railway profitable through making it functional properly with spontaneous support of the public in general within the next couple of years, reports BSS.
"We have already adopted various need-based steps, including manpower recruitment and revitalisation of the non-functional routes to attain the cherished goal," he added.
The minister urged the mango traders, businessmen and exporters to transport their mangoes to different areas from the Rajshahi region through railway as it is low-cost and safe.
"We are working relentlessly to make the railway eligible for mango transportation as per direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said, adding that full-length support of all stakeholders is needed to this end.
Referring to the existing problems in terms of transporting mangoes through railway, Minister Zillul Hakim assured that all the problems will be solved for making the railway mango transportation popular.
He also said they have taken steps for signing memorandum of understandings with some of the courier services related to the railway mango transportation.
Railways Secretary Humayun Kabir, Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali, mango producers, farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, dignitaries as well as other railway and administration officials were present on the occasion.
