Special train begins transporting mangoes from Rajshahi to capital

A special parcel train has departed for Dhaka after loading mangoes in Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi railway stations creating a high hope among the mango traders and farmers.

The train left Chapainawabganj at 4pm and subsequently departed for Dhaka from Rajshahi at 6pm on Friday.

The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway has taken the initiative to transport mangoes at a lower cost for welfare of the mango traders and farmers amid the Covid-19 situation.

The cargo train will carry a maximum 225 tons of goods in six wagons every day. So, farmers and traders can transport goods at their will. It will cost Tk1.17 to carry a kilogram of mango to Dhaka from Rajshahi. And it is Tk1.30 from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka.

The train will make a stoppage for loading mangoes at 14 stations on the Chapainawabganj-Dhaka railway route via Rajshahi.

Mayor of Rajshahi AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque, West Zone General Manager of Bangladesh Railway Mihir Kanti Guha and other high officials concerned were present at the Rajshahi Station on the occasion of launching the special parcel train.

Mihir Kanti Guha said parcel fare has been reduced 25% since May 18 so that farmers and traders can transport mangoes easily. Not only mangoes, the traders and growers can transport vegetables and other seasonal fruits as well, he added.

The railway porters will conduct all sorts of the loading and unloading works of the goods. To this end, the porters were imparted need-based training on how to handle the goods from booking to loading as well to unloading properly.

Meanwhile, following the directives of the prime minister, the post and telecommunication ministry has arranged a truck of the postal department to transport mangoes to Dhaka free of cost.

Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated the event at Puthiya Upazila in the district through a videoconference on Tuesday last.

Bangladesh Postal Department under its ‘farmers-friendly postal services’ programme will transport the mangoes of marginal and small farmers and traders.

Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque said that the mango farmers and traders can avail the transportation opportunities by contacting their respective upazila nirbahi officers and upazila agriculture officers.

Officials said mango was cultivated on 26,150 hectares of areas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts where it’s expected to yield 2,44,000 tons of mangoes this year.

Mango groves were also nurtured on 12,671 hectares of land in Naogaon district where target was fixed to produce 1,61,242 tons of mangoes while in Natore district is expected to produce 56,021 tons of mangoes on 4,823 hectares of land.