'Balla Local' Train in Chunarughat now just a nemory
Faruk Mahmud, Chunarughat (Habiganj)
The Balla railway line in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj was once the heart of the tea industry and public life of the region. This railway line, built during the British era, is now confined to the pages of memory and history.
This railway line, which is about 36 kilometers long, is now on the verge of extinction as train services have been suspended for more than four decades. According to historical information, this railway line was built from Chunarughat to Balla in 1928-29 under the Assam-Bengal Railway. There were a total of eight stations on this route, including Chunarughat Junction - Habiganj Bazar, Habiganj Court, Dhuliakhal, Paikpara, Shayestaganj, Barkota, Sutang Bazar, Chunarughat, Amurod, Asampara and Balla on the border.
This 'Balla Local' train was the most affordable and reliable means of transporting tea produced by at least 22 tea gardens in Chunarughat upazila and essential goods including rations and fuel oil for workers. After independence, this train played an important role in bringing back refugees from India and connecting border areas. At that time, a diesel engine was added instead of a coal engine and the train used to run twice a day. However, over time, the railway began to deteriorate due to irregularities and mismanagement. Locals allege that at one stage, the train came under the control of smugglers. When maintenance was stopped due to ticketless passenger transport and losses, the speed of the train dropped to only 15 kilometers per hour. Train service on this route was first stopped in the 1980s as it became risky. Later, it was reopened on a limited scale several times, but was closed again in 1991.
After that, after a few days under private management, train service on this route has been permanently closed since 2002-03. The railway infrastructure has now become a ruin due to being abandoned for a long time. There are allegations that hundreds of crores of rupees of railway assets have been looted. Illegal structures have been built by occupying railway land. Even some railway employees have been accused of earning money by renting railway land. Although the then government had promised to restart this railway in 1996, it has not been implemented to this day. Locals claim that if this traditional railway is restarted, it will breathe new life into the tea industry and economy of the region.
Habiganj-4 Constituency MP SM Faisal said, Balla local train is now just a memory for us. Our efforts will continue to bring back this tradition and make the railway operational again.
