Despite the government's various directives to prevent new types of corona Omicron transmission, there is no safety net for passenger at the Benapole port railway station. Passengers traveling without masks ignore the health rules as there is no supervision by the health department and railway authorities.
Although there is a scanning booth of health department in the station, there is no activity. This increases the risk of infection. Railway services and import trade on this route were shut down last year due to increased traffic. People were affected in different ways. Conscious passengers and traders demand increased security.
It is learned that at present, in this situation, along with the roads of Benapole port, the import trade with India is going on by rail. Freight trains are entering the port every day. Besides, multiple passenger trains are running on this route inland. At present, hundreds of people from home and abroad are flocking to the station for business and medical treatment in India.
The government has various guidelines to prevent infection to keep passenger traffic and trade active. However, in the case of trade and passenger travel by road, there is some health protection system, but there is no protection in railways. Passengers are walking without masks in front of the security guards without following the hygiene rules.
Last year, the health department staff worked to check the health of the train drivers and their assistants at the station to prevent corona infection, but now it is closed. This puts the immune system at risk.
"We are terrified of Omicron," said Shawkat, a train passenger. Hundreds of people are gathering at the railway station. Indians are also coming and going. There is no hygiene here. Many do not wear masks. There is no oversight of the security system.
C&F trader Obaidur Rahman said there was a risk of further damage if rail services were shut down like last year due to increased transmission.
Benapole Railway Station Master Saidur Rahman said that at present passenger Benapole Express on Dhaka-Benapole route, Betna Express on Khulna-Benapole route and Cargo Rail between India and Bangladesh are importing and supplying goods. The train drivers and their associates are coming to the station. Besides, hundreds of passport passengers are gathering every day. The health department has two scans but its activities are closed. It is better if the security system of the health department is on here.
Sharsha Upazila Family Planning and Health Officer Yusuf Ali said a scanning booth of the health department was set up at the station earlier when passengers were traveling on the Khulna-Kolkata route. At present, due to the shortage of manpower, the activities of the health department at the railway station are closed. However, if there is an emergency, they will take measures to strengthen the security system again.
According to reliable sources, the number of people infected with Omicron has increased to 30 in the country. In the last 24 hours, the number of corona cases in neighboring India has increased to 1 lakh 94 thousand 720 people. 442 deaths. Two weeks ago, the number was 9195 people.
The infection has increased almost 22 times. The number of people infected with Omicron in the country is 4,033. Yesterday, 358 Bangladeshi passport passengers went to India and 94 Indian passengers came to Bangladesh. Passenger traffic has declined due to the increase in the transmission of Omicron.