Bangladesh’s oldest railway station to get a facelift

Plan to modernize historic Jagati railway station awaits green signal

The authorities have yet to approve the much-awaited proposal on the renovation and preservation of the first railway station in East Bengal, at Jagati under Kushtia Sadar Upazila,?that paved the way for linking Kolkata to Dhaka in the last quarter of nineteenth century.

Locals demand quick execution of the project as they believe it will improve economic activities in the area.?

With the passage of time, the iconic red building of the station and the unique overhead water tank are standing still, but only to fall apart. Left without any supervision and regular maintenance, the station has lost its original beauty and charm.?

Cracks have developed in the two-storey main building, covered with weeds. The bricks and masonry of the platform have decayed, while theft of different valuable tools and is a commonplace due to lack of security arrangement.?

Necessary manpower including the station master has not been posted for a long time. As a result, only two employees – a gatekeeper and a pointsman – conduct operations at the station. There are 10-12 more posts for security personnel and other staff vacant in this station.

Currently, only two local trains stop at the station while locals prefer bus or three wheelers due to lack of passenger services, waiting room, wash room and a shed. Due to lack of adequate lights and security fences, eerie darkness and silence descend on the station at night.

Locals say the existence of the station has been sustained only on paper. Four trains run daily through this station on Khulna-Goalanda Ghat, Rajshahi-Gopalganj and Rajbari-Poradaha junction routes. But only the Nakshi Kantha mail and a shuttle train stop at Jagati.

Gatekeeper Sajjad Hossain told Dhaka Tribune: "The infrastructure of many railway stations across the country has been improved. But the first railway station has always been neglected. We see an average of 20-25 passengers per day.”

He added that the Bhermara station master visits the place sometimes to sign documents.

Birbal Mondal, railway divisional engineer (west) of the Pakshi office, said that a proposal had been sent to the higher authorities seeking renovation and preservation of this historic rail station.?

“Once complete, the station will have all necessary facilities to handle passengers and goods,” he told Dhaka Tribune.

First railway station of East Bengal

The East India Railway Company built a 38km-railway line from Howrah near Kolkata to Hooghly in 1854. Then, on September 29, 1862, the Eastern Bengal Railway launched the rail route from Kolkata to Ranaghat.

By extending this line, a 53.11km-broad gauge link was opened up to Jagati on November 15 the same year, and later, the station was established.?

To facilitate communication between Dhaka and Kolkata, a railway line was launched on January 1, 1871 from Jagati to Goalanda Ghat on the banks of the Padma River in Rajbari district. From there, passengers used to take a steamer to Dhaka.?

At that time, the Jagati railway station was important for the people of this region for the improvement of communication system, expansion of trade and goods transportation.?

Local Idbar Ali said, once upon a time, there was transportation and commercial import and export of goods to Kolkata through this station. “But now it's just a memory. The authorities are indifferent towards this first railway station in the country.”

Elderly Zia Uddin of Jagati village said that the station had staff quarters. There were always 13-14 officers and employees. “Once, a lot of goods were loaded and unloaded at this station. Starting from betel nut, rice, fertilizer, all goods were brought by train,” he told Dhaka Tribune, reminiscing his young days.

DHAKA TRIBUNE