C T Online Desk: Train services on the Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar route resumed on Sunday after remaining suspended for five consecutive days due to flooding that damaged sections of the railway track.
The first train to resume operations was the Probal Express, which departed around noon. It was followed by the Parjatak Express, which arrived from Dhaka and left Chittagong Railway Station for Cox’s Bazar at 1:35pm.
Farhan Mahmud, divisional transport officer (DTO) of Bangladesh Railway’s Chittagong division, said train services resumed on Sunday afternoon after repairs to the flood-damaged railway line were completed.
Railway officials said the line has been declared safe for operations after floodwaters receded. However, trains will be restricted to a maximum speed of 10km/h while passing through the repaired section as a safety measure. Beyond the affected stretch, trains will be allowed to operate at speeds of up to 40km/h until Dohazari.
The resumption comes despite heavy rainfall continuing in Chittagong since Sunday morning. Ahead of the restart of services, Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone General Manager Md Shuboktagin visited Sholoshahar Railway Station along with senior railway officials to inspect the line.
Shuboktagin said Chittagong had experienced record rainfall, causing water to inundate railway tracks last Tuesday despite improvements to the city’s drainage system. He said the government closely monitored the situation, and State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid inspected the affected railway line on Wednesday.
Following instructions from higher authorities, railway workers raised several vulnerable sections of the track by nearly one foot using stone ballast. Intensive repair work continued day and night on Saturday, making it possible to restore train operations on the Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar route.
Sholoshahar Railway Station Master Main Uddin Mamun said the Chittagong-bound Probal Express, which had been stranded at Jan Ali Hat Station since Tuesday, departed at 12:50pm on Sunday, crossed the repaired section without incident and reached its destination safely.
Jan Ali Hat Station Master Nizam Uddin said the Dhaka-bound Parjatak Express also crossed the affected section successfully at around 2pm before continuing its journey to Cox’s Bazar.
