Local residents blocked the railway and held a human chain and protest in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga, demanding that Ansarbaria railway station be fully reopened, a station master appointed, the line repaired and regular train services run.
The blockade, which lasted about two and a half hours, halted rail traffic in both directions, causing great hardship to thousands of passengers.
The programme was held at Ansarbaria railway station from 10am to 12:30pm on Wednesday (November 4).
Large numbers of people from different areas of Jibannagar and Chuadanga Sadar upazilas took part in the programme, organised by the All-Party Struggle Committee for the Protection and Development of Ansarbaria Railway Station.
The protesters have three demands: that the historic Ansarbaria station be fully reopened with a station master appointed; that the long-neglected line be repaired and modernised; and that effective steps be taken to run regular train services on the route.
Speakers said Ansarbaria station is bound up with the long heritage and feelings of people in the area. The station once played an important role in local travel and trade. But for lack of staff, infrastructure and regular trains it has effectively stopped functioning, causing hardship to students, office workers, traders and others.
A historic railway station cannot be neglected like this, they said. In the public interest the station must quickly be fully reopened, the line repaired and regular train services ensured. They urged the authorities concerned to take effective steps quickly.
Speakers at the human chain included Jibannagar upazila BNP president Anwar Hossain Khan Khokon, former upazila Jamaat-e-Islami amir and former union parishad chairman Sakhawat Hossain, Andulbaria union BNP general secretary Azim Khan and union Jamaat-e-Islami leader Harun-or-Rashid.
The large crowd at the human chain demanded that Ansarbaria station be reopened within the next 72 hours.
Local people have held several rounds of protests, human chains and railway blockades before, demanding that the station be reopened and developed. With no expected progress for a long time, they have taken to the streets again.
Locals hope the ministry concerned and the railway authorities will act quickly to fully reopen Ansarbaria station and meet the area’s long-standing demand for rail services.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report