A cattle special train to carry livestock cheaply and ease farmers' hardship ahead of Eid-ul-Azha starts today, Wednesday, 6 July. The train will leave Chapainawabganj for Dhaka at 4.30pm.

It will then travel via Kankanhat, Rajshahi, Chatmohar, Ullapara, Bangabandhu Bridge (West), Joydebpur and Tongi, reaching Tejgaon in Dhaka early on Thursday, 7 July. The railway authorities have decided to run the special train on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, though it may be extended if needed.

Carrying one cow from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka on the train will cost Tk 591.40. The fare for each wagon from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka is Tk 11,890, and each wagon can carry 20 animals. One cattle train can carry more than 300 animals.

Asim Kumar Talukder, general manager (GM) of Bangladesh Railway West Zone, confirmed the information to Jago News at about 10.30pm on Tuesday, 5 July.

"Before the Qurbani Eid, taking cattle to Dhaka by truck takes about 20-22 hours, and the animals often fall sick. That is why the cattle special train has been arranged. It will take only 12 hours to reach Dhaka from Chapainawabganj, and the trains will arrive on schedule. Carers can travel with the animals in the same wagon; that arrangement has also been made," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.