Trains to ply on Saidpur-Cox’s Bazar next year

Staff Correspondent: Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujon yesterday said trains will ply on Saidpur-Cox’s Bazar route from next year.
The minister said while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of a direct flight on the Syedpur-Cox’s Bazar route at Saidpur Airport Terminal yesterday afternoon. Prime Minister was keen to develop Syedpur airport as a regional hub by air, for this, work has already started. Airspace from Saidpur to Nepal, Bhutan and India will be opened, the Railway Minister said. “Saidpur is the commercial heart of the North.
The government is exploring the potential of tourism and trade around this.”
Referring to Saidpur as a railway town, the minister said many lands in the city belong to the railways, most of which have been “illegally occupied”. The Ministry of Railways wants to use these lands through proper management so that the government gets revenue.
The Railway Minister said the roads have been “extensively expanded” since independence, but the potential in railways has shrunk. Many mega projects have been undertaken to spread it. Work on the Dohazari-Chattogram Railway will be completed next winter. Not only by plane, but the commuters of Saidpur will also visit Cox’s Bazar at ease.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali presided over the inaugural function. Nilphamari-2 constituency MP Asaduzzaman Noor, Rabeya Alim MP of the reserved constituency, Nilphamari-4 MP Ahsan Adelur Rahman, Biman management committee chairman Sajjadul Hasan, Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mokammel Hossain, Rangpur divisional commissioner Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan, Nilphamari DC Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police Moktaruzzaman and others were present as guests in the event.