Railway Recommends ‘Rail Seba’ to Reduce Rip-Offs

To prevent passenger harassment and ticket fraud, Bangladesh Railway has advised travelers to purchase tickets exclusively through its official app, “Rail Seba.” The guidance was issued on Monday, September 29, via a notice from the Ministry of Railways’ Public Relations Officer (Senior Information Officer) Rezaul Karim Siddiqui.

The notice stated, “Some dishonest individuals are luring people on social media with promises of ticket sales. In reality, these fraudsters do not possess the tickets; they take money via bKash, Nagad, or mobile banking and then cut off all contact. Many passengers have fallen victim to such scams, and in some cases, the SIM cards used are deactivated.”

According to railway sources, a maximum of four tickets can be purchased per registered ID for a single journey, and the names of all co-passengers must be entered. Currently, all train tickets are sold online, and only the Bangladesh Railway-approved app, ‘Rail Seba,’ is authorized for ticket purchases. “If tickets are purchased from any other individual, organization, or platform, passengers will undoubtedly fall prey to fraud,” the notice warned.

Under railway regulations, the person whose ID is used to buy a ticket must carry the associated mobile phone and a photo ID card while traveling. Travel by anyone other than the ID holder and the listed co-passengers is a legal offense.

The notice further stated, “If anyone promises tickets through fraudulent means or attempts to sell tickets using another person’s ID, report it to the relevant official or law enforcement agency. Bangladesh Railway’s Security Force (RNB) and Railway Police (GRP) will assist in this regard.” A hotline number, 131, has been activated for reporting complaints, and the railway authorities assured that complainants’ identities will remain confidential.