M K Alam ; Dhaka- Passengers faced severe hardships during the Eid return journey due to an acute locomotive (engine) shortage and frequent technical glitches. According to an internal report from the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh Railway, at least 30 trains were delayed between June 1 and June 6.

Some trains suffered delays ranging from one to four hours, while signaling issues caused further disruptions for 13 other trains. To manage the crisis during the heavy rush of returning passengers, the railway authorities were forced to suspend about 14 local and mail trains daily, depriving regular commuters of essential services.

Key Highlights of the Disruption

• June 1 to 6: 30 trains delayed in the Dhaka division solely due to engine unavailability.

• Peak Delays: The highest number of delays occurred on June 1 and June 5, with 9 trains running late each day.

• Worst Affected: The Burimari Express faced the longest delay of 3 hours and 55 minutes.

• Technical Failures: 17 instances of engine trouble and 16 complete engine breakdowns were reported.

Breakdown of the Delays

The internal report reveals a grim picture of schedule collapses across multiple dates:

• June 1: The Upakul Express was delayed by 1 hour and 55 minutes, Burimari Express by 1 hour and 20 minutes, Titas Commuter by 1 hour and 5 minutes, and Agnibeena Express by 50 minutes. Other trains like the Egarsindhur, Godhuli, Upaban, Jamuna, Mohanganj, and Turna Nishitha faced delays between 15 and 40 minutes.

• June 3 & 4: The Kalni Express ran 1 hour and 15 minutes late on June 3. The following day, the Turna Nishitha was delayed by 1 hour and 5 minutes, while the Jaydebpur station witnessed a major engine breakdown on the Turag-1 train, leading to a 3-hour and 5-minute delay after a relief engine was brought in.

• June 5: Nine trains were delayed, including the Tourist Express, Sonar Bangla, Burimari Express, and Mahua Commuter, all running 55 minutes late. The Upaban Express was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes.

• June 6: Eight trains ran behind schedule. The Burimari Express topped the list with a staggering 3 hours and 55 minutes delay. The Cox’s Bazar Express and Turna were delayed by 1 hour and 35 minutes, and the Lalmoni Express by 1 hour and 25 minutes.

Official Explanations: Overcrowding vs. Faulty Engines

When asked about the situation, ABM Kamruzzaman, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Dhaka, stated that several Dhaka-bound trains from the western region, as well as some eastern zone trains, experienced delays.

“While there were locomotive-related issues, the massive rush of passengers was a primary factor. Trains had to wait longer at various stations to ensure passengers could board and alight safely, which triggered a domino effect on the schedule,” Kamruzzaman explained.

In addition to engine failures, signaling issues crippled the network. Between June 1 and June 6, at least eight signaling failures delayed 13 trains by 10 to 45 minutes. Major disruptions included a CBI system failure at the Akhaura bypass and panel board malfunctions at Vidyaganj, which remained broken for over four hours.

Aging Fleet and the Way Forward

The report highlighted that 17 engine glitches occurred between May 23 and May 27 alone. To cope with the deficit, the authorities suspended services for 14 mail and local trains, including the Surma, Noakhali, Bhawal, and Dhalashwari mail trains, cancelling multiple trips on the Mymensingh, Dewanganj, and Mohanganj routes.

Speaking on the underlying issue, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md. Afzal Hossain pointed out that expired locomotives are the root cause.

“Many of these engines are plagued by repeated malfunctions. Necessary parts were not replaced on time in the past due to a lack of initiatives by previous administrations. Even some newer engines are now facing issues. However, we have initiated procurement of necessary spare parts and are ensuring regular servicing to resolve this,” Hossain said.

According to railway sources, Bangladesh Railway currently has 271 locomotives in its fleet, but only 177 are active (90 meter-gauge and 87 broad-gauge). Crucially, about 65% of the meter-gauge and 45% of the broad-gauge engines have already surpassed their economic lifespans.

Commenting on the crisis, Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman, a transportation expert and professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), emphasized that repeatedly repairing expired locomotives is not a sustainable solution.

“The railway must urgently initiate the purchase of new locomotives, ensuring strict specifications and guaranteed spare parts availability during procurement. In the interim, diplomatic channels could be leveraged to borrow broad-gauge engines from neighboring countries to tackle this emergency,” Dr. Hadiuzzaman suggested.