Train tickets pricey as black marketers active in N dists
Tickets of Bangladesh Railway (BR) have become too pricey for the Eid holiday makers as those went to the black marketers in Dinajpur and its adjacent districts after Eid-ul-Fitre was celebrated on June 16.
It's now a golden deer for both travelers and black marketers, said Dhaka-bound passenger Razia Sultana of Naogaon's Badalgachhi upazila.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. According to the BR officials, a total of eight trains, including Drutajan Express and Ekota Express, plied between Dinajpur-Dhaka route every day to cope with the increasing number of passengers just for the Eid festival.
Travelers are forced to pay more than double to avail a ticket.
Golam Kibria of Phulbari upazila said price of a non-air conditioned chair ticket is Tk 425 on Dinajpur-Dhaka route, but he bought it by paying a broker Tk 1,000 for one ticket.
“I have been trying to get two tickets from the sale outlet for last two days, but failed,” he said. Afterward, he bought the tickets from a local black marketer.
Sohan Mia of Parbatipur upazila said he purchased two tickets of Parbatipur-Dhaka route paying Tk 2,000 instead of Tk 900. He collected the tickets from a betel leaf trader in station area.
During a visit to Dinajpur railway station yesterday morning and the day before, this correspondent found large number of people gathering at the station to avail tickets, but the sale counters of intercity trains remained closed as all the tickets had already been sold off.
Black marketers were seen active there.
Situation was found same in Joypurhat and Akkelpur railway stations.
Abdul Zabbar, station super of Dinajpur railway station, refuted the allegation of black market sale of tickets. Sometime, some dishonest people can take the advantage in such situation when demand for BR tickets goes up, claiming that it was an isolated incident.
Besides, the schedule of three intercity trains -- Drutajan Express, Ekota Express and Nilsagar Express -- collapsed due to overcrowding of passengers, causing immense sufferings to Eid holiday makers.