Railway authorities announced the first closure of Chattogram-Gangasagar section Mustannagar station in 2021 due to manpower shortage. Several more stations were subsequently closed. Thus, 48 stations of the Eastern Railway were closed. Of these, there are 47 'B' category stations and one 'A' category station. However, the railway authorities have taken the initiative to reopen these abandoned railway stations after the announcement of closure.
According to railway sources, 557 Assistant Stationmasters have been appointed recently to address the manpower crisis and more prominent people will be appointed to this post soon. Besides, the recruitment process has already started to fill other vacancies at the field level. Sources also said that the implementation of development projects in various sections of the eastern part of the railway is in the final stage. Once the work is completed, it will be possible to open the stations step by step and reach the marginal level of railway passenger service through new trains.
The Eastern Railway chief engineer's office last sent a letter to the railway headquarters on November 11 last year, asking for the opinion of the higher authorities regarding the operationalization of the inactive stations. The Transport Department of Railways gave a positive opinion on December 12. In the return letter, the Chief Engineer proposed to open the closed 48 stations in three phases considering their importance. 22 stations will be commissioned in the first phase, 19 in the second phase and 8 stations in the third and last phase.
According to sources, in continuation of the multi-faceted plan of the government for the development, expansion and modernization of the railway communication system, it has been asked to take initiative to activate the closed stations in the eastern region on a priority basis.
General Manager of Railways (East Zone) Md Jahangir Hossain said that currently the government is implementing various projects for the development of railways. Along with this, the recruitment of new personnel has started. As the work of several projects of the Eastern Railway has come to an end, initiatives have been taken to open the closed stations. If they are introduced, the revenue of the railways will increase along with the quality of service.
Among the railway stations that have become defunct are Barbakund, Mirsharai, Mahuriganj, Sharshdi, Alishahr, Naoti, Mainamati, Gangasagar, Bariadhala, Mustannagar and Kalidah on the Chattogram-Gangasagar section of the Dhaka-Chattogram railway. A maximum of 11 stations are closed in this section. The eight stations closed on the Akhaura-Sylhet-Chatakbazar section are Longla, Tilagaon, Itakhola, Laskarpur, Vaterabazar, Afzalabad, Khajanchigaon and Chatakbazar. Eight stations were also closed in the Dhaka-Dewanganj Bazar section. Besides, four in Akhaura-Dhaka section, four in Bhairabazar-Mymensingh section, three in Laksam-Chandpur section, two in Mymensingh-Jhariajhanjail-Mohanganj section, two in Chattogram-Nazirhat section, two in Laksam-Noakhali section, three stations in Jamalpur Town Junction-Bangabandhu Bridge (East) is closed.
Among the closed stations, Madhuroad station in Laksam-Chandpur section (the only 'D' category station) and Chatakbazar station in Akhaura-Sylhet-Chatakbazar section were not confirmed as to when they were closed. However, according to Railway Transport Department, among other stations, one in 2001, one in 2003, one in 2008, five in 2009, six in 2010, five in 2011, six in 2013, four in 2014, one in 2017, two in 2018. , two in 2019, three in 2020, two in 2021 and seven in 2022.
According to railway sources, a 'B' category station has three stationmasters, three points men (P-men), one porter, one booking assistant and three gatekeepers. And in case of 'D' category railway stations only one Assistant Stationmaster or one Booking Assistant and one Porter and one Gatekeeper are allowed. However, many 'D' category stations are managed by only one master.