Why is the active railway line inactive?

Chatak in Sunamganj has a long history of being an industrial center, both domestically and internationally. The British settled here for business. They traded limestone. Over time, the industries of stone and lime grew. Oranges from Chatak have a well-established reputation across the nation. Under British ownership, the Assam Bengal Cement Company developed the nation's first and only self-contained cement mill in 1937. The Sylhet Pulp and Paper Mill in Chatak and the only railway or main route in the area used to transport stones from quarries are both closed. Additionally, Chatak is home to the sole sleeper and concrete manufacturer in the country.

Industries, gas and other natural resources have made Chhatak Upazila, located on the bank of Surma river, geographically and economically important. Considering the overall aspect and importance, about 35 km railway line was laid from Sylhet to Chatak in 1954 after partition.

This railway station in the northeastern region of Bangladesh Railway has been kept closed for almost two and a half years due to the Corona situation. It is known that there is no precedent of this railway station being closed for such a long time except for four months during the liberation war. From March 2020 to August this year, no train ran on this railway. 

Needless to say, the railway is not just about passengers; it was also used to transport goods. Two trains were operated on the route daily. The big station is now empty of passengers. Passengers do not walk to the station for train journey. Cows are grazing in the station area. There is intense dissatisfaction and anger among the local people over the issue. Whereas the Prime Minister herself is giving importance to the expansion of railways across the country; isn’t it an unprecedented negligence to make such a vital communication system useless and unworkable? Can the relevant authorities and ministries avoid responsibility for negligence?

The country's old Sylhet-Chatak railway has been kept closed for the past two and a half years although the government has been implementing many big railway projects from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar, Dhaka to Padma Bridge to increase rail connectivity with the various parts of the country, including the southern region.

In addition, the disastrous floods in Sylhet-Sunamganj in June this year severely damaged the railway line at many places. In many places rock and soil have moved from under the line. The railway structure hangs in the void.

Are those who are responsible for this waste of state resources and negligence instead of quick reforms, no accountability? A communication system that is people-friendly and functional has been lying on its face for months only due to the negligence of the officials. The authorities are silent. Crore of money and government resources are being lost. However, the quality of passenger service could have been increased by modernizing this railway. The fare from Chatak to Sylhet was only Tk10 per person. It can be further rationalized if necessary. But now the regular passengers of this route have to pay much money for using the bus and auto-rickshaw. Common people and businessmen of this region want to remedy this soon.

Alamgir Shahriar: Poet and Researcher

(Translated from the print edition of The Daily Samakal by Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Senior Sub-Editor, Samakal Online)