Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced that adequate fuel will be supplied to all public transport from 15 March to ensure smooth travel for people returning home for Eid-ul-Fitr.
He assured that fuel prices will not rise during the festive period. The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inspecting Kamalapur Railway Station on Friday.
Sheikh Rabiul Alam said there is no risk of fare hikes due to fuel shortages. He also emphasised that transport disruption caused by fuel scarcity will not occur.
Commenting on the current state of Eid travel, the minister said “The journey has been largely smooth. Despite heavy demand for online ticket sales, passengers have been able to secure tickets fairly. Authorities have taken maximum measures to ensure uninterrupted travel by rail and other public transport.”
Regarding advance ticket sales he said “Online bookings began on 3 March and experienced heavy traffic. Nearly 3.7 million people attempted to purchase tickets, but only around 36,000 could be sold according to railway capacity.”
He added “On the first day of Eid travel, 21 trains departed for their scheduled destinations, most running on time. Two trains left about 40 minutes late due to delays caused by a previous accident. The delay has now been reduced, and the trains are expected to run on schedule within the next two days.”
The minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to modernise rail services and make them more passenger-friendly, enabling comfortable long-distance travel in a shorter time.
To meet Eid travel demand, additional coaches and special trains have been added. Currently, about 124 extra coaches have been deployed. On the metre-gauge line, 14 more coaches and five pairs of special trains on the broad-gauge line are now in service. This will allow daily travel for 36,000 to 42,000 passengers.
Sheikh Rabiul Alam noted “Maintaining the train schedule requires at least 85 to 87 locomotives. At present, 78 are operational, and a few more will be added in the next two days to normalise services further.”
He cautioned that minor disruptions or accidents may occur during the peak travel period. The administration is ready to handle such situations promptly.
He urged passengers to remain patient and cooperate during any emergency.
