DHAKA, MAY 23 (V7N) - The first special cattle train operated by Bangladesh Railway (BR) is scheduled to reach Kamalapur Railway Station tonight, carrying approximately 400 sacrificial animals from Jamalpur to supply the capital's Eid-ul-Azha markets.
To prevent traffic chaos and ensure the safety of the livestock, the train will temporarily halt at Tejgaon station before midnight. It will be brought into Kamalapur station later in the night once passenger foot traffic decreases, fulfilling a direct demand from cattle traders who requested to unload their livestock at the central terminal.
Bangladesh Railway is operating a total of three special cattle trains on the Dewanganj-Dhaka and Islampur-Dhaka routes. All operations are slated to conclude by May 24.
First Train: Departed Dewanganj Bazar at 10:30 AM, arrived at Islampur Bazar at 11:00 AM. After loading animals at 4:00 PM, it departed for Dhaka at 4:42 PM on Friday carrying 400 animals across 25 wagons.
Second Train: Scheduled to depart with another 400 animals in 25 wagons around 6:00 PM on Friday.
Third Train: Scheduled to depart with 400 animals in 25 wagons around 6:00 PM on Saturday (May 23).
First introduced by the government in 2020 to support rural farmers and urban wholesalers during the pandemic, the cattle train service offers a highly cost-effective and secure alternative to road transport.
| Metric | Details |
| Total Capacity per Train | ~400 Sacrificial Animals |
| Wagon Count per Train | 25 Wagons |
| Capacity per Wagon | 16 Animals |
| Fixed Fare per Wagon | Tk 8,000 |
By utilizing the rail network, traders can bypass the highway congestions, extortion risks, and heat exhaustion that frequently affect livestock transported via traditional open trucks.
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