Consignments of mangoes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj will go to Dhaka, Chattogram and other places of the country through goods trains this time as bus and train services are not in operation during the ongoing shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sending one kilogram of mangoes from Chapainawa-bganj to Dhaka will cost Tk 1.50 only while carrying the same from Rajshahi will cost Tk 1.30 only.
The decision of procuring and sending mangoes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj to Dhaka and other places and their marketing was taken at a meeting held at the office of the deputy commissioner of Rajshahi on Wednesday morning.
Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Hamidul Haque presided over the meeting attended by the representatives from various courier services, officials of the Department of Agriculture, West Zone Railway officials, officials of Rajshahi district and metropolitan police, mango traders and mango growers.
As per the decision taken at the meeting, a specific number of trains will move from Chapainwabganj to carry mangoes only.
Traders will be able to send mangoes from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka through train spending Tk 1.50 per kg while the cost for the same from Rajshahi will be Tk 1.30.
The trains will stop at the stations near Dhaka to unload consignments of mangoes.
In addition to train services, the courier services will also take mangoes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj to Dhaka and other places of the country.
According to sources, against the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak talked with farmers and traders about marketing and selling of various seasonal fruits, including mango and litchi, though a videoconference on May 16.
The decision of transportation of mangoes through trains came the same day.
Afterwards, Railway Minister Nurul Islam directed the authorities of West Zone Railway, Rajshahi, to take necessary measures to carry mangoes from Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj through trains.
It is learnt, earlier, mangoes were never transported through trains for commercial purpose.
Both farmers and traders are happy with the decision of sending mango consignments through trains.
They expressed the hope that they will have to face no more hassles as mangoes will now be transported through trains this time.
There are mango orchards on 17,686 hectares of land in the two districts and the mango production target in the districts has been fixed at 2,10,000 tonnes this season.
bwjs123@gmail.com
