The once-bustling Darshana International Railway Station in Chuadanga now stands silent, with minimal activity. Due to a significant drop in goods imported via the India-Bangladesh rail link, government revenue has fallen by more than half. While small quantities of goods like fly ash and soybean husk still arrive, they are being unloaded elsewhere, further reducing activity at the Darshana rail yard.
Rail imports from India were once a cost-effective and efficient method for Bangladeshi traders. However, various complications have caused this route to slow down drastically. As a result, revenue has dropped sharply—from Tk 26.94 crore in the 2023–24 fiscal year to just Tk 11.40 crore in 2024–25, a decline of Tk 15.53 crore.
With the decline in operations, many workers at the yard have lost their jobs. Struggling to survive, some have left the area in search of work in Dhaka and other districts, while others have switched professions entirely. They still hope that trade will return to normal and revive the rail yard’s activity.
At its peak, over a hundred trucks operated daily at the yard. Now, only 10 to 15 trucks are seen. Many truck owners have moved their vehicles elsewhere due to a lack of transport demand, facing regular losses. Drivers and helpers remain idle, with no work available.
Goods like maize, stones, onions, fly ash, and gypsum used to be imported through this route. Now, only fly ash and soybean husk are coming in small amounts. In the 2023–24 fiscal year, 5,76,559 metric tonnes of goods arrived in 9,749 wagons, generating Tk 26.94 crore in revenue. This fiscal year, imports dropped to 2,52,101 metric tonnes in 4,486 wagons, bringing in just Tk 11.40 crore.
The downturn began after recent political changes and the ongoing dollar crisis. Traders are now struggling to open Letters of Credit (LCs) due to stricter banking conditions. Previously, partial payments allowed LCs to be opened, but now full payments are required, making it difficult for many traders to operate. Some goods still arrive, but are unloaded at other stations.
Due to the lack of activity, most offices at the yard remain closed for long periods. Necessary equipment is deteriorating from disuse. Clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, transporters, and drivers are all passing idle time, with many workers already having left the area.
Workers say the yard had seen a revival after the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, everything has come to a standstill again. “Sometimes we get work after one or two months, and even that is minimal,” said one worker. “We’ve been forced into other jobs just to survive.”
Traders confirm that bringing goods via the Darshana route was once quick and easy. But the current complications—especially the shortage of dollars and banking rules—have disrupted the system.
Station Superintendent Mirza Kamrul Haque said, “Compared to last year, revenue has halved. Our target is not being met. Traders are importing less from India. If imports return to normal, revenue will increase.”
Caption:
Only 10 to 15 trucks now operate at Darshana International Rail Yard for goods transport, compared to over a hundred in the past
