Inauguration of 'Burimari' Express at Lalmonirhat is accompanied by excitement, anger of common people

 Rumon Hossain Zilhaj,

Lalmonirhat Representative:

Inter-city train 'Burimari Express' is finally starting on Burimari-Dhaka route. After a long time, the people of the region have expressed their happiness as the promises made by the Prime Minister are being implemented. However, common people have expressed their anger as there is no stop at Aditmari railway station like other intercity trains. In the meantime, the local people have organized a human chain program to demand stoppage of journey at Aditmari station.

According to railway sources, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Dahgram-Angorpota and Tinbigha corridors of Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on October 19, 2011. At that time he promised to start an inter-city train from Burimari directly to the capital Dhaka. On June 16, 2018, former railway minister Mujibul Haque came to Lalmonirhat station. At that time, he announced the speedy implementation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's promise. Later on November 12, 2021, former railway minister Nurul Islam Sujan visited Lalmonirhat station. At that time, he promised to start intercity train on Burimari-Dhaka route soon.

Finally, on November 19 last year, 14 coaches for the Burimari Express train reached Lalmonirhat station. Then on the afternoon of December 6, the inter-city Burimari Express left Lalmonirhat railway station for Gaibandha on a trial basis.

After that, the date of inauguration of 'Burimari Express' train was fixed on November 30 last year. It was later changed to December 6. This day was also changed to December 16. The train was not inaugurated that day either. The date was later rescheduled to January 1 of the new year. After that the date of 18th February was fixed but the train was not inaugurated. Later Tuesday (March 12) has been re-opened. When the train starts, the picture of communication from Burimari to Dhaka will change. It will start a new horizon in the communication of the people of this region including Lalmonirhat.

On Saturday (March 9), Deputy Director (TT) of Traffic Transportation Branch of Bangladesh Railway. An instruction letter signed by Shaukat Jamil Mohsi informed about the inauguration of the train.

Burimari Express (809) Burimari train will be closed weekly on Monday and Burimari Express (810) will be closed weekly on Tuesday. The 14 coach train will have total seats of 638/653. Train rake basing and watering will be done at Lalmonirhat and cleaning will be done at Burimari.

Train No. 809 will stop at stations where Burimari Express will stop at Dhaka Airport, Ishwardi Bypass, Natore, Santahar, Bogra, Bonarpara, Gaibandha, Kaunia, Lalmonirhat, Tushbhandar, Hatibandha, Barakhata and Patgram stations.

On the other hand, train number 810 will stop at Patgram, Barakhata, Hatibandha, Tushbhandar, Lalmonirhat, Kaunia, Gaibandha, Bonarpara, Bogra, Santahar, Natore and Dhaka Airport stations. Meanwhile, the train was not stopped in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat.

As a result, the common people of these areas expressed their anger. A human chain was held on Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway at Burirbazar memorial area at 11 am on Monday to demand that the train stop at Aditmari.

President of Aditmari Press Club Farhad Alam Sumon spoke in a human bond, Aditmari Upazila Awami League General Secretary Rafiqul Alam, Teesta Bachao River Save Movement leader former engineer Delwar Hossain Rangpuri, DBC News Rangpur Division Chief Majed Masud, Upazila Women Awami League President Shamchunnahar Begum Milli, Aditmari General Secretary of Press Club Sultan Hossain, Former General Secretary of Upazila Chhatra League Maidul Islam Sarkar Babu etc.

The speakers warned to issue a notice of stoppage of the 'Burimari Express' train at Aditamari station within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, they called for a blockade at Aditmari railway station on Tuesday. Later a memorandum was given to the Minister of Railways through Aditmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer.

Lalmonirhat Railway Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Abdullah Al Mamun said the train will be launched on March 12. The trial run of the train has already been completed. Burimari-Dhaka route is 600 km long. It will be the longest railway route in the country.