Advance Eid train tickets sale begins

Bangladesh Railway has begun selling advance train tickets online for Eid-ul-Azha holidaymakers.

Tickets for intercity trains operating in the western zone went on sale at 8:00am on Wednesday, while tickets for trains in the eastern zone are scheduled to go on sale at 2pm.

Railway authorities said all advance Eid tickets will be sold online this year. Passengers can buy tickets only through Bangladesh Railway’s official online ticketing website and the Rail Sheba app.

According to the ticket sale schedule, tickets for May 23 journeys are on sale starting May 13. Tickets for May 24 will be sold on May 14; May 25 tickets on May 15; May 26 tickets on May 16; and May 27 tickets on May 17.

Return journey tickets will go on sale from May 21. Tickets for May 31 journeys will be sold that day, followed by June 1 tickets on May 22, June 2 tickets on May 23, June 3 tickets on May 24 and June 4 tickets on May 25.

Under railway instructions, tickets for Western Zone intercity trains go on sale at 8am each day, while tickets for Eastern Zone intercity trains are available from 2pm.

A passenger will be allowed to buy tickets only once each for the onward and return journeys during the Eid period. A maximum of 4 tickets can be purchased per case, and the names of co-passengers must be entered when purchasing multiple tickets.

Bangladesh Railway said advance Eid tickets will not be refundable under any circumstances. For the convenience of passengers, 25 percent of seats will be sold as standing tickets from station counters on the day of travel.

Arrangements have also been kept to sell tickets for May 28, May 29 and May 30, depending on the sighting of the Eid moon.

Railway authorities urged passengers not to buy or sell tickets through Facebook pages, unauthorised individuals or third-party platforms, warning that they may fall victim to fraud. Passengers have been requested to use only official government platforms for ticket purchases.