‘Special trains’ on Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route during Durga Puja holidays

Four consecutive holidays are expected to create “heavy” rush on railway routes

Bangladesh Railway is set to operate “special trains” for four days on the Dhaka–Chattogram and Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar routes during the Durga Puja holidays to manage the pressure of homebound travellers.

Officials of the railway’s eastern zone said the trains will operate from Sept 30 to Oct 4, with a break on Oct 2.

During the Sharadiya Durga festival, two days of public holidays combined with two weekend days will close offices and courts for a total of four days.

The railway expects heavy pressure on the routes as people travel home, said Shafiqul Rahman, chief operating superintendent of the eastern zone.

According to railway information, the “Dhaka Special” will leave Chattogram at 2:45pm on Sept 30 and reach Dhaka at 8pm. The “Chattogram Special” will leave Dhaka at 10:30pm on Oct 4 and arrive in Chattogram at 4:30am the next day.

On Sept 30, the “Tourist Special” will leave Dhaka at 10:30pm and arrive in Cox’s Bazar at 6:50am the following morning.

On Oct 1, the same train will leave Cox’s Bazar at 11:30am and reach Dhaka at 8pm. That night, at 10:30pm, it will again depart from Dhaka for Cox’s Bazar, arriving at 6:50am the next morning. The train will run at the same times on Oct 3.

On Oct 4, the “Tourist Special” will operate only on the Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka route, leaving at 11:30am and reaching Dhaka at 8pm.