Rajshahi, Oct 26 (V7N)- The newly launched special cargo train, aimed at transporting agricultural products from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj to Dhaka at a low cost, saw minimal uptake on its inaugural run today. Departing from Chapainawabganj at 9:45 a.m. and reaching Rajshahi at 11:30 a.m., the train made its way to Dhaka with only a few crates of chicken eggs, despite multiple stops at five stations for loading.

The train, designed to carry up to 120 tons of produce across five compartments, offers an affordable rate—1.30 BDT per kilogram from Chapainawabganj and 1.18 BDT per kilogram from Rajshahi. However, the response from farmers and traders has been tepid so far, with no vegetables or other agricultural products loaded at the initial stations.

Assistant Chief Commercial Officer of Western Railway, AKM Nurul Alam, expressed optimism about future runs, attributing the slow start to a lack of awareness among traders. "We expect better response in the coming weeks as we plan further outreach initiatives to inform and encourage farmers to utilize this cost-effective transport option," he said. The train service is set to operate weekly, stopping at 14 stations en route to Dhaka to serve farmers and agribusinesses in the region.

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