Satyajit Das:
The Sylhet-Akhaura railway was once a reliable means of communication, but due to long-term neglect and lack of renovation, it has now become dangerous. The railway line and bridges from Srimangal to Kulaura, in particular, are in a terrible state of danger.
There is a fear of railway tracks bending due to stolen nuts, bolts, hooks and clips. Trains often stop in the Lawachhara forest during movement, and more than 10 bridges from Kulaura to Srimangal are at serious risk.
Tourists traveling by train to the popular tourist destinations of Srimangal, Kamalganj and Moulvibazar are suffering due to the poor condition of the railway tracks. Slow trains and unscheduled breaks are making their journey difficult.
Traders who commute to Dhaka every month say the Sylhet-Shayestaganj railway line is so fragile that trains often stop. The suffering has been compounded by the fact that abandoned stations have not been reopened.
Senior Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Railway's Kulaura Junction Md. Mozammel Haque said on Monday (February 24), "Work is underway to reinstall the stolen parts."
Senior Deputy Assistant Engineer of Srimangal Railway Md. Saifullah said, "The dangerous bridges are being repaired in phases, but there are some problems with train movement in the Lawachhara forest area."
Conscious citizens of the district, including passengers and tourists, are demanding, "The railway should be renovated and safety measures should be ensured immediately. If urgent measures are not taken, the lives of passengers will be at risk and the tourism industry will face serious losses."
