“I will vote for the first time, and it feels like Eid. My husband and I are going home together. It’s such a different feeling. I will vote for those who will fight against corruption and misrule,” said Mahmuda, a passenger of the Rangpur Express at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka, expressing her excitement.
Alongside Mahmuda, thousands of people have flocked to the station to return to their villages to cast their votes. Since Wednesday morning, the station has been crowded with passengers. Some are traveling with their families, while others are alone, boarding trains to reach their destinations.
Due to the heavy passenger load, many travelers are either standing or traveling on tickets without reserved seats. Some, unable to find space inside the trains, have even been seen taking the risk of traveling on the roofs.
Railway Security Forces (RMB) are actively ensuring safety at the station. Passengers are being allowed entry only after bag scanning, ticket checks, and digital verification.
The station has turned into a festive scene, filled with laughter, joy, and anticipation. First-time voters’ excitement is visible on many faces. Overall, Kamalapur Railway Station has become a hub of human activity driven by the call of the polls.
Zainal Abedin, traveling to Rajshahi with his family on Wednesday morning, said, “Getting tickets by road is difficult, traffic is heavy, and fares are high. That’s why we chose the train. Train travel is comparatively safer, though today I had to buy a standing ticket as no seats were available.”
He added, “Many people are voting for the first time. Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces is a wonderful sight.”
Nahid Hasan, who also took a standing ticket due to the unavailability of seats, said, “It has been a long time since I got the chance to vote. I don’t want to miss this opportunity. If I can’t get a seat, I will travel on the roof.”
Railway authorities have been on high alert since morning to manage the additional passenger load. Scanners have been installed at every entry point, and no one is allowed in without a ticket.
Sajedul Islam, Manager of Kamalapur Railway Station, said, “The extra passenger load has been noticeable over the last three days. Due to the long holiday associated with the polls, the number of travelers has increased.”
He also mentioned that the weekly suspension of the Padma Express to Rajshahi has been canceled, and the train ran yesterday and today. On Wednesday, 43 intercity expresses and 26 mail and local commuter trains are operating.