Country’s first railway station yearns for restoration

The historic Kushtia Jagati railway station, once a thriving hub connecting communities and facilitating trade, now stands in a dilapidated state, bearing the brunt of neglect, illegal occupation, and a lack of renovation.

Established by the Eastern Bengal Railway Company over 200 years ago, this station played a crucial role in Bangladesh's early railway history, promoting economic development and facilitating the transport of goods during British rule.

The station's decline is not only a loss for its historical significance but also impacts the daily lives of residents in the area. With trains no longer stopping at Jagati station, locals resort to using other stations like Poradah and Kushtia Court, facing numerous challenges and demanding the modernization of the station.

Mizanur Rahman Lalu, a 56-year-old local resident, reminisces about witnessing steam-powered coal trains and the functioning water tanks that supplied coal engines in the station's early days. Today, however, the station is a mere shadow of its former self, with neglected waiting rooms, deteriorated platforms, and abandoned water tanks. The once-bustling environment filled with passengers and noisy train activities has been replaced by silence and decay.

Currently, only two local trains, the Khulna-Goalandghat mail train Nakshikantha Express and a shuttle train between Poradah and Rajbari, make stops at Jagati station. However, these trains carry fewer passengers, and the station, which was once a vital link for the transportation of sugarcane and other goods, now remains silent and underutilized. The lack of passenger services, coupled with a shortage of manpower, has led to the closure of station office rooms and a quiet atmosphere prevailing around the station.

During the British rule in 1862, the Eastern Bengal Railway Company initiated railway operations, aiming primarily for economic purposes. The Jagati Railway Station played a significant role in improving communication systems, expanding trade, and transporting goods. Today, however, it stands as a historical relic, turning 160 years old on November 15, with locals and passengers decrying the absence of amenities such as seating areas, tubewells, and bathrooms.

Residents like Fatema Khatun express their dismay at the gradual decay of the station, highlighting the lack of repairs, amenities, and the deteriorating environment. Even as the world evolves and other railway stations undergo improvements, the first railway station in Bangladesh has been left behind, devoid of electricity and lights, creating an eerie atmosphere after daylight hours.

Farz Ali, a local tea shopkeeper, laments the loss of the station's assets and calls for urgent measures to preserve its historical significance. However, Shah Sufi Noor Mohammad, the divisional manager of the western Pakshi office of the railway department, cites the government's cost-cutting policy as a hindrance to immediate renovations. He assures that the matter will be considered when the budget permits, emphasizing efforts to save the station and address the shortage of manpower.

To wrap up, the Kushtia Jagati railway station stands as a poignant reminder of Bangladesh's railway history, calling for attention and restoration to preserve its heritage and serve the needs of the local community.