Rail services have resumed across Bangladesh after a 24-day suspension, with mail, express, local, and commuter trains now back on track, although intercity services remain on hold.
"Freight trains resumed operations from 12 August, followed by mail, express, local, and commuter trains on 13 August," Bangladesh Railway Director (Public Relations) Md Nahid Hasan Khan said.
Intercity services are scheduled to resume on 15 August, with tickets available for purchase from 5pm on 12 August.
However, the Parabat Express and Jamalpur Express services will remain suspended for the time being.
Bangladesh Railway (Eastern Zone) Assistant Chief Operating Superintendent (ACOPS) Kamal Akhtar Hossain said significant damage was caused to intercity train coaches during the protests that took place across the country between 19 July and 5 August.
The unrest saw the torching of coaches and the destruction of windows and doors.
Specifically, six coaches of the Jamalpur Express, 58 windows and 18 doors of 13 coaches on the Jayantika Express, and 141 windows and 27 doors of 16 coaches on the Parabat Express were shattered.
The letter further stated that the damaged coaches are currently stationed at Akhaura and Mymensingh, and they will be sent to base stations and the Pahartali shed for repairs, a process that will require time.
Jamalpur Express operates on the Dhaka-Jamalpur-Bhuapur-Dhaka route, while the Parabat Express runs on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route.
Train operations were gradually halted in various parts of the country from 18 July due to the quota reform movement.
However, following the imposition of a government curfew on 19 July, train services were entirely suspended. Limited commuter train services briefly resumed between 1 and 3 August.
