Ticket sales begin for Pabna–Dhaka intercity trains, inauguration on 19 November
Online ticket sales have begun for the new intercity trains on the Pabna–Dhaka route. Sales for the Pabna Prabhati Express and the Pabna Godhuli Express started at 8am on Thursday (12 November). The two trains will be inaugurated on 19 November.
Ahead of the inauguration, a preparatory discussion meeting was held on Thursday morning at the Rashid Hall room of the district council, organised by the Pabna Nagorik Committee.
The meeting was chaired by Jahurul Islam Bishu, a wounded freedom fighter who is administrator of the Pabna District Council and chairman of the Pabna Nagorik Committee. The organisation's general secretary, Md Abul Bashar Khan Jewel, conducted the meeting.
In his speech as chair, Jahurul Islam Bishu said this is a great victory for the people of Pabna. He said a Pabna–Dhaka rail link had been talked about for a long time but could not be realised because of repeated failures. After the present government came to power, the long-standing demand of Pabna's people was met through the sincere efforts of Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, member of parliament for Pabna-5 (Sadar). On behalf of the people of Pabna, he thanked the prime minister. He also sought everyone's views and cooperation to make the inauguration ceremony memorable.
Others who spoke at the meeting included Pabna Odhikar Bastobayon Committee president Principal Mahtab Uddin Biswas, Pabna Government Edward College principal Md Abdul Awal, Government Shaheed Bulbul College principal Md Bahej Uddin, Pabna Press Club president Md Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar and secretary Jahurul Islam, Md Abul Kalam Azad, father of Mahbub Hossain Niloy, a martyr of the anti-discrimination movement, and Md Dulal Master, father of martyr Zahidul Islam.
Also speaking were Pabna Odhikar Bastobayon Committee general secretary Advocate Nazmul Hossain Shahin, District and Sessions Judge Court PP Advocate Golam Sarwar Khan Jewel, Pabna Bar Association general secretary and ACC PP Advocate Moloy Kumar Roy, and minibus owners' association president Md Rehanul Islam Bulal.
The speakers said the launch of the trains would benefit Pabna's people in many ways, develop the area and change people's fortunes. They warmly congratulated the government for meeting the long-standing demand.
On 19 November at 4:30pm, a train named the Pabna Udbodhoni Express will leave Pabna for Dhaka. Commercial services will begin the next day, 20 November. From that day, the Pabna Godhuli Express will leave Dhaka for Pabna at 3:25pm and the Pabna Prabhati Express will leave Pabna for Dhaka at 8am.
Fares for the two trains have been set at Tk 325 for non-AC, Tk 817 for AC chair and Tk 978 per seat for an AC cabin.
During regular services on the Dhaka–Pabna–Dhaka route, the two trains will stop at Ishwardi, Chatmohar, Baral Bridge, Ullapara, Tangail, Joydebpur and Dhaka Airport stations.
