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June 15, 2025 : Due to a severe shortage of seats, passengers traveling from Jamalpur’s Islamapur Railway Station to Dhaka are resorting to riding on the roofs of trains in sweltering heat. With Eid-ul-Adha holidays ending and offices reopening today, many passengers, unable to secure seats, are left with no choice but to endure the blazing sun on train roofs.
The privately operated Dewanganj Commuter Train, which departs daily from Dewanganj Station via Islamapur toward Dhaka, has been overcrowded for the past two days. The number of passengers far exceeds the available seats, forcing many to travel on the train’s roof despite the intense heat.
Speaking to passengers, it was revealed that intercity trains like Tista and Brahmaputra have shifted to a fully online ticketing system for convenience. However, many passengers lack the expertise to purchase tickets online, leading to significant difficulties. Tickets sell out within minutes, often falling into the hands of black-market sellers. A regular Shovon Chair ticket from Islamapur to Dhaka, priced at BDT 250, is being sold for BDT 1,000 to 1,500 in the black market. Passengers expressed frustration, noting that their Eid bonuses and salaries were spent on essentials, leaving them unable to afford inflated ticket prices. The private train offers a deal where two tickets grant one seat, but with limited availability, many are forced to travel on the roof.
Daily wage laborers from distant areas shared that train fares are significantly lower than other modes of transport, making the train their only viable option despite the hardships. Passengers from neighboring Gaibandha district described the roof as so hot that “an egg could fry on it,” questioning how they would endure the 5- to 7-hour journey under such conditions. They expressed reliance on faith to complete the trip safely.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Md. Israfeel from the Bangladesh Railway Police outpost remarked, “It’s astonishing to think how people travel to Dhaka on train roofs in this extreme heat. They are helpless, and since this is a privately operated train, there’s little we can do.”
According to the Islamapur Commuter Train authorities, the train has limited seating capacity. On Saturday, approximately 5,000 passengers traveled to Dhaka, with similar numbers expected today. The authorities noted that accommodating such a large number of passengers from multiple districts with limited seats is impossible. They urged the addition of two more trains on this route to ease the burden.
Islamapur Station Master Md. Shahin Mia stated that four trains operate from Dewanganj to Dhaka, including Tista, Brahmaputra, and the privately managed commuter train, with a combined seating capacity of 400. However, the passenger load ranges from 8,000 to 10,000, making it impossible to provide seats for all. As a result, passengers risk their lives traveling on train roofs in unbearable heat, where even staying indoors is challenging.
AI/MR
