Staff Correspondent

Eid is approaching so people are starting to return home to celebrate the biggest religious festival with their dear and near ones.

As always, trains are at the top of the choice of home-bound people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Passengers choose the railways considering various aspects including passenger service, online tickets, security and saving of time.

They have become very active online to book advance tickets for the Eid journey. On March 17, visitors hit the railway app and website nearly 2.5 crore times for 35,913 tickets. So far, no tickets remain unsold.

Bangladesh Railway has taken various initiatives to make this Eid journey safe, comfortable and festive. Special security measures have been taken at the two main railway stations in Dhaka and Joydevpur station in Gazipur.

Besides, Bangladesh Railway Police and Railway Security Force will increase security at all intercity stations in the country.

According to railway sources, additional security forces, police, RAB, APBN, Ansar and fire service members will be on duty at the railway station during this Eid journey. In addition, CCTV cameras will be monitored round the clock. In addition, medical teams will be available at Kamalapur and Dhaka Airport railway stations for passengers.

According to railway security forces, law enforcement agencies will be strict against black market tickets, traveling on roofs and without tickets. The Ministry of Railways has issued instructions so that private train owners cannot sell additional tickets.

Bangladesh Railway has also stopped the opportunity to buy local train tickets and enter the platform and board another train.

Meanwhile, it has been seen on the ground that many homebound people are coming to Kamalapur railway station before the special day of the Eid journey. Many of those who are working have been seen sending their families home first. They are entering the platform in a row at the station gates. No chaos was seen. Passengers are also leaving safely on the way out. Passengers without tickets have been fined.

BR authorities concerned have made changes in ticketing to make the railway service more comfortable during this Eid journey.

Separate times have been fixed for the two railway zones. Ticket sales start at 8 am for the western railway zone and at 2 pm for the eastern railway zone.

Bangladesh Railway and online ticket seller Shojhoz.com said that there was heavy traffic on the railway website and app during these two times. However, no information was received about the server being down despite the heavy traffic this time.

Sanjeev Debnath, CEO of train ticket seller Shojhoz.com, told BSS that this time the online service has been very comfortable. There was no server complication in buying tickets. The server did not go down even for a second. Customers can see how many people are trying to buy tickets at the same time. In addition, if the ticket runs out at a specific station, the customer is given suggestions for the previous and next stations. Which has been very comfortable for passengers.

Bangladesh Railway has been selling advance tickets online since March 14 for this Eid journey. Tickets for the eastern railways are sold at 2 pm and for the western railways at 8 am for ten days ahead. Five pairs of special trains will run in addition to the 120 intercity trains running across the country this Eid. In addition, local, commuter and mail trains will run to their specific destinations.

Dhaka Divisional Commandant of the Railway Security Force Mohammad Shafiqul Islam told BSS, "To increase security at the railway station this year, an additional 200 Ansar members will be added to the existing 490 Railway Security Force. We will play a significant role in stopping travel without tickets.

We have already created separate gates for entry and exit. This way, no one will be able to enter without a ticket. And if entry is prevented, we will be able to stop excess passengers in the coaches and travel on the roof."

The Railway Police will provide three-level security at Kamalapur station. In this regard, Railway Dhaka Police Police Superintendent Anwar Hossain told BSS, "We will provide three-level security to passengers traveling from Kamalapur to different districts of the country. Our uniformed police, DB, and APBN members will be at the entrance of the station.

Our members in plain clothes will also be there, and CCTV monitoring will be done round the clock. The same service will be available at Dhaka Airport and Joydevpur Railway Station."

Kamalapur Railway Station Station Master Shahadat Hossain told BSS, "The number of passengers has already increased at the station around Eid. They are entering and leaving the platform with tickets. The trains will follow the schedule on every route during this Eid journey. Overall, the railway is taking all kinds of measures to make the Eid journey comfortable."

Bangladesh Railway Director General Md. Afzal Hossain said, "Bangladesh Railway is working to make this year's Eid journey safe and comfortable. Passengers who climb on the roof make safe travel unsafe. This time, we will be strict so that no one can travel on the roof and without a ticket. "Our security force members will implement it, especially at Kamalapur, the airport, and Joydevpur stations."