Train schedule jumbled up on the first day of Eid journey

Train schedule at Kamalapur Railway Station has gone haywire right at the beginning of Eid journeys.

Five trains started behind schedule for different destinations on Wednesday.

Joyontika Express started for Sylhet at 1:55pm, almost two hours later than its schedule. Rajshahi Express left for Chapainawabganj at 2pm instead of 12:20pm, Ishakhan Express departed for Mymensingh at 12:15pm instead of 11am, Chottola Express started for Chittagong at 2:38pm instead of 1pm and Rangpur Express left at 10am instead of 9am.

Kamalapur Railway Station Manager Shitangshu Chakraborty blamed “problems with bogies” for the delays.

Joyontika Express arrived late on the platform and it caused all the chaos, he said.

A carriage of Rangpur Express had to be replaced while Rajshahi Express was a local train which usually runs behind schedule, said the station manager.

Commuters waiting on the platforms expressed annoyance.

Sagor Chowdhury, a university student, said he and his younger brother had to wait at the station for over an hour for Joyontika Express.

Two siblings, Asaduzzaman Abir and Ayesha Khanam, said it was painful for them to wait amid heat as well as keep an eye on the baggage.

The official three-day holiday for the Eid-Ul-Fitr starts on Jun 25 (Sunday). The festival that follows a month of fasting will be celebrated on Jun 26 or Jun 27 in Bangladesh, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Sales of advance Eid tickets started on Jun 12.