JUST Seeks Stops for All Trains

The administration of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) has requested the introduction of stops for all types of trains, including long-distance intercity services, at Meherullahnagar Railway Station near the university to ease the long-standing travel difficulties of nearly 5,500 students. The university administration has sent a formal letter to the railway authorities in this regard.

 The letter was sent to the relevant authorities, signed by university Registrar Kazi Md Jalal Uddin under the instruction of JUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iarul Kabir on 12 August, Wednesday. Copies were also sent to the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Private Secretary to the Education Minister, the Ministry of Railways and the Private Secretary to the State Minister for Power and Energy.

The letter said Jashore University of Science and Technology has been making important contributions to the country’s education and research sectors since the 2008-09 academic year. The university has achieved leading positions in Bangladesh in education, research, science and technology in various prestigious national and international rankings, including the Times Higher Education Ranking, QS World Ranking and Elsevier rankings.

The university currently has 38 departments, eight faculties, two institutes, six residential halls and 24 offices, including the integration of Jhenaidah Veterinary College.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iarul Kabir has called for the immediate introduction of stops for all trains, including long-distance intercity services, at Meherullahnagar Station to ease the long-standing travel difficulties of teachers and students. He said the move would be a timely and people-friendly decision by the current government.

Professor Dr Iarul Kabir said the current government, led by Prime Minister Tarek Rahman, is implementing various initiatives to make the country’s railway communication system more modern, safe, affordable and environmentally friendly.

As part of these development efforts, he said, it is highly necessary to introduce stops for all trains, including intercity services, at Meherullahnagar Station near the university, considering the long-standing travel difficulties faced by JUST students.

He further said teachers, officers, employees and students regularly travel to different parts of the country for academic, research, official, administrative and personal purposes. However, due to the lack of effective railway connectivity near the university, they have to travel nearly 12 kilometres to reach Jashore Junction Railway Station.

This causes additional expenditure of time and money, while passengers sometimes fail to reach the station on time and miss their trains. Introducing train stops at Meherullahnagar would save both time and money and have a positive impact on the university’s academic, research and administrative activities, the vice-chancellor said.

He expressed hope that the relevant authorities would take the necessary measures promptly considering the importance of the matter.