10 special trains to run from Monday to ease Eid rush: Minister

Bangladesh Railway will begin operating 10 special trains from Monday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha in an effort to ease travel pressure for millions of homebound passengers, Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced on Sunday (May 24).

Speaking to reporters after inspecting operations at Kamalapur Railway Station, the minister said five pairs of special trains will be added to the regular schedule beginning May 25 to ensure a smoother and more comfortable Eid journey.

Bangladesh Railway has also added 51 special coaches to its fleet to accommodate increased passenger demand during the holiday season.

“We still do not have enough trains, locomotives, coaches or rail capacity compared to the massive Eid travel demand,” the minister said. “Under normal circumstances, intercity trains can transport around 32,000 passengers daily. For Eid, we have increased capacity by nearly 25 per cent, allowing around 4,000 additional passengers to travel.”

He acknowledged that managing the annual Eid exodus remains a major operational challenge due to overwhelming public demand for rail travel.

The minister said authorities have identified vulnerable rail sections and high-risk points across the network ahead of the holidays and taken special safety measures to prevent accidents or derailments.

“Our teams remain on maximum alert. Considering the current condition of the railway network and continuous monitoring, we are hopeful there will be no major schedule disruptions or serious accidents during this Eid journey,” he added.

Addressing delays reported on Sunday morning, Sheikh Rabiul Alam said three trains experienced disruptions after one train suffered wheel slippage caused by straw spread along parts of the rail tracks by local farmers. Rescue teams were deployed quickly to restore operations.

According to the minister, one train was delayed by 20 minutes, another by one hour, and a third by nearly two hours due to the incident.

He also admitted that many railway stations across the country still lack full security infrastructure and unrestricted public access remains a concern. Despite logistical limitations, he said railway authorities are trying to ensure the best possible service with available resources.

The minister expressed optimism that this year’s Eid train journey would be more comfortable than previous years, citing improvements in station conditions, train services and overall passenger experience.

On ticketing, he claimed Bangladesh Railway successfully completed 100 percent online ticket sales through a transparent digital process, significantly reducing opportunities for ticket black marketing and syndicates.

State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, ministry secretary Md Fahimul Islam and Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain were also present during the inspection at Kamalapur Station.