The introduction of online train tickets which will be issued in the names of the passengers has put many people in trouble due to their inability to purchase tickets on their own.
The passengers who had to suffer at the Kamlapur Station alleged that Bangladesh Railway (BR) introduced the new system without adequate awareness campaign and that is why the passengers were facing additional problems after purchasing the non-refundable tickets.
"We cannot avail the train services after purchasing tickets under the name of my known person," said Sohel Rana, who wanted to go back home in Pabna. He took the help of another person to buy a ticket.
Like Rana, Zahidul Islam also faced problem at the checking point as his ticket was purchased by his sister-in-law, who was not accompanying him in the journey for Sylhet on Tuesday.
Nasima Akter Iva, who was in a hurry to enter the station, has been obstructed at the entry gate due to having no ticket. She, however, alleged that she could not buy tickets through online as she does not have the national identity card with her.
Talking to an employee at the station's reservation desk, where the passengers were rushing to get a solution to their problem, the FE also found that many of the passengers do not understand the log in system for online ticket or email account to get receipt of the tickets.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) introduced the new travelling rule by restricting selling of tickets to the persons who log in using their own account, including email account, aiming to check black marketing of the tickets.
None of the sold tickets - return tickets or rout-wise tickets - are transferrable.
Acknowledging the problems being faced by the passengers with the new system, Station Manager M Aminul Islam told the FE that they were reluctant to implementing the new rules for next couple of days.
But, he said, the system at least helped them identify the black marketers from the NIDs under which a good number of tickets were purchased.
"We have already identified six such NID numbers which would be blocked for ticket purchase purpose," he added.
The station manager showed from his apps that the Friday's tickets of popular Suborna Express were still remaining for sale, but previously it was very difficult to get one as soon as the BR opened the tickets.
The BR opens the sale of online tickets for its intercity express trains five days before the scheduled journey.
He also said the railway officials were gathering experience from the stations in implementing the new rules which would be shared with the minister for improving the system.
