Mobarakganj railway station, the most important station in Jhenaidah has failed to ensure services for the passengers. The station has been incurring loss when it failed to serve for want of computer or any modern machineries equipment, for signaling and attending passengers during the night for manpower shortage.
The situation has discouraging the passengers to travel on trains at a convenient cost and better railway services despite government assurance of better train communication services, said the locals and passengers.
They said Mobarakganj railway station was established near Kaliganj upazila town on November of 1862. The 53.11 kilometre single railway line was built between Jhenidah and Jagati. The section was expanded as double line in 1897. Following the railway line construction the Khulna and Jashore railway line was connected with Kolkata in 1884. Later the 45 kilometre (28 miles) of broad-gauge line was constructed in 1914.
Concerned sources said taking the advantages of the railway communication, Mobarakganj sugar mills was established near the upazila headquarters. Eight kilometer length rail line between Mobarakganj and Kotchandpur was built then.
Some passengers at Mobarakganj railway station when contacted said the number of passengers is not increasing at the station so they are deprived of services at the station. The government has been revenue here and the passengers are deprived of services despite government commitment for better train communications.
The sources said the station is running with three employees including the stationmaster. As a result, signaling and services to the passengers have been hampered. No computer activity is running for want of a computer when the world is within the hand with modern technology now a days.
Some locals said the station area turns to be a sanctuary for the addicts, drug peddler, thieves and other anti social elements during night. Further, signal of the railway gates is hampered for want of gateman at the points. As a result, number of accidents have been taking place at the gates very often, they said.
Anwar Hossain Sadat, stationmaster of Mobarakganj railway station admitted the acute manpower crisis, said he had informed the matter to the authority concerned for immediate solution. He has been awaiting the decision of the authority, station master said.
