Bijoy Express delayed by four hours, leaving passengers stranded at station

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Hundreds of passengers at the Chattogram Railway Station faced significant travel disruptions Wednesday morning as the Bijoy Express train suffered a four-hour delay, forcing families to wait on crowded platforms with luggage and children. The train, which connects Chattogram to Jamalpur, was scheduled to depart at 9:10 a.m. but was pushed to an afternoon departure, leaving commuters frustrated by a lack of prior communication.

Many travelers arrived at the station early, only to learn that the train had not yet reached its point of origin. Parvin Akter, a commuter traveling with her children, expressed her frustration at the lack of notification, noting that she had left her home in the Halishahar area at dawn based on the original schedule. Others, including those traveling to Kishoreganj to celebrate Eid al-Adha with family, expressed similar grievances. Mohammad Ujjwal Mia, who traveled from Bakalia, noted that the sudden delay left passengers in a state of uncertainty about whether to return home or remain at the station.

The ongoing scheduling issues have drawn criticism from long-time passengers who view the situation as a recurrent failure during holiday periods. Mohammad Al Amin, another passenger, claimed that the Bijoy Express frequently experiences delays during the Eid season, yet little is done by authorities to mitigate the recurring inconvenience.

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According to Chattogram Stationmaster Abu Zafar Majumdar, the delay is attributed to the increased passenger load, which has significantly extended the time required for stops at various stations along the route, including Akhaura, Bhairab, and Mymensingh. Majumdar confirmed that the train has struggled to maintain its schedule for four consecutive days, arriving in Jamalpur four hours behind the planned time on the previous day.

While the Bijoy Express remains the primary source of disruption, station officials stated that the other 22 trains scheduled to depart from Chattogram on Wednesday are operating according to their original timelines. Despite the stationmaster’s explanation regarding the pressure of holiday traffic, many passengers remain stranded, facing the logistical challenge of waiting on station benches for hours before the train eventually reaches its destination.