All the train tickets for journey on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha for September 24 were sold out within three hours on the last day of selling advance tickets at Chittagong Railway Station yesterday. The railway authorities sold advance tickets for September 24 and return tickets for September 27 yesterday; the sale of advance tickets has begun on September 15. During the visit at Chittagong Railway station it was found that several hundred people were standing in the queues before every countres for a ticket. They said this correspondent that many of them were stood in long queues from Friday mid-night hoping to get a ticket. Many people said that they had been waiting for a ticket for many hours but in went vein. However, many also managed to get a ticket. The tickets of Sylhet-bound Pharika Express and Mymensingh bound Bijoy Express had been sold out within two hours and all the tickets of rest of seven-intercity trains were sold out within three hours, said railway sources. The booking staff said that the selling of advance tickets began at 9am and at around 11am-12pm most of the tickets were sold out. Gazi Akbar, an employer of a private company, came to buy ticket of Sylhet-bound Pharika Express told The Independent, “I came here for four tickets of Paharika Express, I waited in the queue for ten hours to get the ticket. However, Now I am happy as I got the ticket and I can celebrate the Eid with my parents in my village.”Train tickets sold out in 3 hrs
STAFF REPORTER, Ctg
All the train tickets for journey on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha for September 24 were sold out within three hours on the last day of selling advance tickets at Chittagong Railway Station yesterday. The railway authorities sold advance tickets for September 24 and return tickets for September 27 yesterday; the sale of advance tickets has begun on September 15. During the visit at Chittagong Railway station it was found that several hundred people were standing in the queues before every countres for a ticket. They said this correspondent that many of them were stood in long queues from Friday mid-night hoping to get a ticket. Many people said that they had been waiting for a ticket for many hours but in went vein. However, many also managed to get a ticket. The tickets of Sylhet-bound Pharika Express and Mymensingh bound Bijoy Express had been sold out within two hours and all the tickets of rest of seven-intercity trains were sold out within three hours, said railway sources. The booking staff said that the selling of advance tickets began at 9am and at around 11am-12pm most of the tickets were sold out. Gazi Akbar, an employer of a private company, came to buy ticket of Sylhet-bound Pharika Express told The Independent, I came here for four tickets of Paharika Express, I waited in the queue for ten hours to get the ticket. However, Now I am happy as I got the ticket and I can celebrate the Eid with my parents in my village.
Rashed Alam, an Apparel worker said, I wanted three tickets of Bijoy Express, I waited in the queue for four hours, when I reached the counter all the tickets were sold out. The East Zone railway authorities yesterday distributed 7,512 tickets, while 5,364 tickets were distributed through the counters and others 2,148 distributed online. Abul Kalam Azad, station manager of Chittagong Railway Station, said 65 per cent tickets will be distributed through the counters while 25 per cent will be distributed online.
The return tickets for September 27 also sold yesterday and for September 28, 29, 30 and October 1 would be sold on September 24, 25, 26, and 27 respectively.
It may be mentioned that a total of nine inter-city trains leave Chittagong station for different destinations of the country. Of the nine trains, Subarna Express, Mahanagar Prabhati, Mahanagar Godhuli, Turna Express and Chattala Express leave for Dhaka while Paharika Express and Udayan Express leave for Sylhet; Bijoy Express and Meghna
Express leave for Mymensingh and Chandpur respectively.
