Rajshahi, June 21 (V7N) – After a decade of closure and persistent local protests, the Nandangachhi railway station in Rajshahi's Charghat upazila sprung to life on Tuesday, as the Commuter Express train finally made a scheduled stop. The event was met with a festive atmosphere, with locals distributing sweets and flowers, marking a significant partial victory for the community.

For years, residents of Charghat, Bagha, and Puthia upazilas had been demanding the renovation of the dilapidated Nandangachhi station and the reinstatement of halts for intercity trains. Their long-standing grievances culminated in several intense demonstrations. On May 1st, protesters blocked railway lines for four hours, only standing down after railway authorities assured them their demands would be met.

However, when promises of train halts from June 1st went unfulfilled, the community escalated their actions, blocking the tracks again on June 11th. This second blockade, which impacted train services, including those for Eid return journeys, eventually led to renewed assurances from railway authorities, mediated by district BNP convener Abu Said Chand.

The breakthrough came after the Western Railway held a final round of discussions with the protesters on Monday. Subsequently, an office order signed by Western Railway Assistant Chief Operating Superintendent Abdul Awal directed all relevant parties to ensure the Commuter Express train stopped at Nandangachhi. The train, operating on the Ishwardi-Rohanpur-Ishwardi route, arrived at the station around 9 am on Tuesday, to the cheers of eager residents.

Upon the train's arrival, the station building, which had been locked for a decade, was opened, and tickets were sold. Protesters and locals, alongside railway staff, then began cleaning the station, signifying a new beginning for the long-neglected facility.

While celebrating their achievement, one of the movement's coordinators, Tamim Islam, tempered expectations. "Only a small part of our demands has been met. We are not completely happy about that," he stated. Islam emphasized the need for a full renovation of the station and the reinstatement of stops for four intercity trains, but acknowledged that they have given railway authorities time to implement these phases.

District BNP convener Abu Said Chand credited the "tireless efforts of the local people and the agitators" for the successful outcome. He extended gratitude to the railway authorities and journalists for their roles in facilitating the resumption of train services.