Mohanganj Express which runs on the Dhaka-Mohongonj route has been struggling with numerous hitches, including depleting condition of engine and carriage crisis, unfolding a scene of disarray and uncertainty among the commuters.

Locals in Netrokona district alleged that the engine of the train breaks down now and then and the coaches are also in dire condition causing schedule disruption more frequently.

According to the Netrokona Railway Station sources Mohanganj-bound Inter: City Mohanganj Express left Kamalapur station for Mohanganj at least 3 hours 45 minutes late on Monday.

The train was scheduled to leave Kamalapur station at 1:15pm but it left for Mohanganj at 5pm due to lack of carriages. It was supposed to reach Netrokona station by 5:20pm but arrived at 10:32pm.

Netrokona Railway Station sources said the Mohanganj Express train has experienced extreme schedule disruptions since last April due to delays in the schedule of the Inter-City Haor Express train and Mahua commuter train.

The Inter-City Haor Express train is supposed to leave Kamalapur every night at 10:15pm which fails to leave on time regularly. Similarly, the Mahua commuter train departs late from Dhaka disrupting the schedule of the only local train on the route.

Although two inter-city trains ply on the Dhaka-Mohanganj route many passengers feel comfortable travelling by Mohanganj Express as a cost-effective and safe mode of transport, but lately train passengers in the region are no longer getting desired service. Mainly passengers of lower- and middle-class families are the worst sufferers of the train schedule disruption.

On Sunday (26 May) night, the Daily Sun correspondent saw a huge crowd of people waiting for the locomotive across the Netrokona platform. Passengers had tired look on their faces due to waiting for a long time. Some were waiting for the train for 4 hours and some for more than 5 hours.

As the wait for Mohanganj Express seemed unlimited, some passengers laid down on the platform floor after getting tired of standing for long hours. Sweltering heat doubled the suffering of the commuters, especially the women and children.

Trisha Talukdar Tithi of Birampur village, an HSC examinee of Netrokona Government Women's College this year, said that after arriving at Netrokona station, she came to know that the Mohanganj Express train would arrive late. She had been waiting for hours since evening for the train while her daughter and mother were waiting to receive her at Mohanganj station. He had to go to Mohanganj after waiting for 5 hours.

60-year-old passenger Mina of Barantor village of Mohanganj upazila said, “It is very hot today. I am already sick. How long will I wait for the train? Even if I manage to go to Mohanganj by train, I won’t be able to go home today. Have to spend the night at a relative’s house and leave for my home the next day.”

When the inter-City Mohanganj Express train from Kamalapur arrived at Netrokona station, the driver explained the cause of the delay and said that the schedule of the train was disrupted due to a lack of rakes. The coach of the Mohanganj Express train had carried passengers on the Kurigram-Rangpur route. After the Kurigram-Rangpur train arrived at Kamalapur station, the carriage of the Kurigram-Rangpur train was attached to the Mohanganj Express engine and left Dhaka.

Netrokona station in-charge Abdullah Al Mamun said that the Mohanganj Express train left Dhaka for Mohanganj late due to the shortage of train compartments. That is why passengers have to wait for hours at Netrokona station.

Meanwhile, Mohanganj Express made headlines for facing several tragic accidents in the last few years. Last year in December, some arsonists set fire to three carriages of the train that had killed four people, including a child.

The train attendants of Mohanganj Express spotted a fire when it reached near Cantonment station on the way to Kamalapur. After the fire was doused near the Tejgaon railway station, firefighters recovered the bodies from one of the three burnt carriages of the train.

Another man was killed when the Mohanganj Express derailed at the Bankharia (Chilai River) bridge of Gazipur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway on 13 December 2023.