Like other intercity trains, the two pairs of trains from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar are also providing food to passengers at high prices. There is a huge difference in food prices and quality. These foods are being supplied at twice the market price. Bangladesh Railway’s own catering company ‘Bangladesh Railway Catering and Tourism Cell’ (BRCTC) is supplying these meals to the train. Railways are providing food through its own catering company to increase revenue without tendering.
Such complaints have been received from several passengers of Cox’s Bazar Express and Tourist Express trains. Many have also posted pictures of food on social media Facebook. Even after going to the ground, the truth of this complaint was found.
However, claiming that the price of food is not being charged high, the railway authorities said, for now, the railway catering is providing food in two trains. Later they will go to the tender process. Besides, the price and quality of the food is right.
It is learned that the packet of breakfast items sold in trains by railway catering has one piece of bread, one vegetable cutlet, one chicken. The price of each box is 200 taka. But 180 rupees are being taken from many people. At the same time Polao Khichuri is being sold at Tk 200.
It is also known that the first inter-city train ‘Cox’s Bazar Express’ was launched on the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar route in December last year. Then another train ‘Tourist Express’ was launched from January 10 this year. Food is being supplied from Dhaka’s BRCTC in two trains. They have not yet leased out the food supply of the two trains for the railways own income. Besides, there is a rule to hang the price list on the food cart, but it is not followed.
Meanwhile, on Thursday (January 11) at 11 o’clock at night, it was seen that the train employees were sitting in the food coach on the tourist express train going to Cox’s Bazar-Chittagong-Dhaka. Many don’t have nameplates on their clothes. When asked about the price of food, they said that each packet of breakfast is sold at 170 taka. But when we spoke to several passengers who bought breakfast on the train, they said that some bought breakfast for 200 taka, some 190 taka and some for 170 taka. Some also complained that stale breakfast had been heated.
A passenger named Sabbir Ahmed of Tourist Express’s ‘D’ coach said, “They gave 1 sandwich, 1 cutlet, 1 piece of chicken in the food box for Tk 200.”
An employee named Sajal, who is in charge of the food car in the tourist express train, said that one piece of sandwich is Tk 60, one piece of chicken fry Tk 80, vegetable cutlet Tk 70, jelly bread 2 pieces Tk 40, burger (small) Tk 80, half a liter of water Tk 20 and Color tea is sold to passengers at 15 rupees.
In this regard, Assistant Commercial Officer (East) Jobeda Akhter of Railways said, “The matter of supplying food to Cox’s Bazar-bound trains is handled from Dhaka.”
Additional Director General (Operations) Sardar Shahadat Ali said, “This service (supply of food) has been temporarily started for the convenience of passengers.” The contractor will be given the responsibility to supply the food by inviting tenders quickly.
