Train to the sea: Dhaka-Cox's Bazar rail service begins
Transport
The first-ever intercity train between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, the Cox's Bazar Express, started operation on Friday.
The train started from Cox's Bazar for Dhaka with 1,380 passengers at 12:40pm.
Cox's Bazar Station Master Golam Rabbani said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the inauguration of this railway project on 11 November. But the first commercial train left at 12:40pm today. There are 1,380 passengers in 23 compartments of the Cox's Bazar Express."
He said two trains will run on this route for now.
"The train will reach Dhaka via Chattogram at 9:10pm. On the other hand, the train will leave from Dhaka at 10:30pm and will reach Cox's Bazar at 7:20am the next day," Rabbani added.
He said the AC-class fare for the train has been set at Tk1,325 while the non-AC class fare is set at Tk695. The AC fare from Cox's Bazar to Chattogram is Tk470 and non-AC Tk250.
Railway Ministry Secretary Dr Mohammad Humayun Kabir was present at the station during the maiden journey of the first passenger train on Friday. He greeted the passengers with flowers.
At the time, he said the Cox's Bazar Express will run on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route throughout the month of December.
There are plans to increase the number of trains on this route from January, he added.
Loco master Abdul Awal Rana and Assistant Loco master Rakibul Hasan Raju operated the train.
Additional Deputy Inspector General of Tourist Police Cox's Bazar region Apel Mahmud said the arrival of tourists in Cox's Bazar will increase due to the train service.
All kinds of preparations have been made for the service and safety of tourists, he added.
Passengers said the journey has been enjoyable.
The railway project from Chattogram to Dohazari was approved in 2010. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid its foundation stone in 2011.
After revising the project in 2016, PM Hasina inaugurated the project on 11 November this year.
The project has been implemented at a cost of Tk18,500 crore; the length of the railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar is 101km.
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