Bangladesh Railway on Thursday introduced Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (Demu) train service on Dhaka-Joydebpur-Dhaka route, reports UNB.

Railways Minister Mujibul Haque formally launched the Demu train service at Joydebpur Railway Station in Gazipur in the morning. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mujibul Haque said the government had earlier taken a plan to introduce commuter trains on different routes of the country to make the train journey easier and more comfortable for passengers as part of its plan to implement its ‘Vision 2021’. 

“On August 4, 2011, the government signed an agreement with a Chinese company to procure 20 Demu trains. As per the agreement, we started procuring Demu trains in March this year. All trains have already reached the country,” he said.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, AKM Mozammel Huq, MP, Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, Railway Director General Abu Taher and joint secretary of the Railways Ministry Sunil Chandra Pal, among others, spoke at the function. 

Earlier, on April 24, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched Demu train service on busy Dhaka-Narayanganj route for the first time to make commuters movement easier and faster and reduce traffic congestions in the southern part of Dhaka. 

The Demu train service was also launched on Mymensinh-Joydebpur route on July 21 while Comilla-Akhaura and Dhaka-Akhaura on August 20, and Parbatipur-Lalmonirhat and Parbatipur-Thakurgaon routes on August 15. 

Each Demu train has the capacity to carry around 300 passengers.