The Bangladesh Railway on Monday has cancelled the scheduled journeys of three trains on December 25 as it would use the trains to carry Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists on the occasion of the party’s leader Tarique Rahman’s homecoming.

BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on December 25 after over 17 years of stay in the United Kingdom.

The railways ministry, in a press release issued on Monday, apologised to the passengers who were scheduled to board the three trains: Rajbari Commuter on Rajbari-Poradah, Dhalar Char Express on Pabna-Rajshahi and Rohonpur Commuter on Rohonpur-Rajshahi routes. 

The press release also read that along with 10 special trains assigned for carrying BNP leaders and activists to the capital on December 25, additional coaches would also be added to regular trains. 

The special trains will run on Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar, Jamalpur-Mymensingh-Dhaka- Jamalpur, Tangail-Dhaka-Tangail, Bhairab Bazar-Narsingdi-Dhaka-Narsingdi-Bhairab Bazar, Joydebpur-DhakaCantonment-Joydebpur (Gazipur), Panchagarh-Dhaka-Panchagarh, Khulna-Dhaka-Khulna, Chatmohor- Dhaka Cantonment-Chatmohor, Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi, and Jashore-Dhaka-Jashore.

In the release the ministry also mentioned that by arranging the special trains Bangladesh Railway would earn an estimated Tk 36 lakh.

Instructions have been given for the leaders and activists to comply with the Election Code of Conduct-2025 while they are on board the special trains and additional coaches, the release added.

Earlier on December 18, the BNP requested the railways ministry to arrange special trains or additional carriages on the key routes on the night of December 24, ahead of Tarique’s arrival.

In a letter to the ministry secretary, the BNP highlighted the expected arrival of large numbers of students and supporters from across the country to welcome Tarique in Dhaka.

Earlier this year, the government provided eight special trains to carry people from different districts to Dhaka city on August 5 to join the July Declaration announcement ceremony, had passengers fewer than the usual trains.

Before that, Chattogram Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal rented a special train to take part in a student rally at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on August 3, and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami rented four special trains to transport leaders and supporters to Dhaka for its July 18 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.