Road Transport, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam Robi made the announcement while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday (3rd March).

According to the minister, individuals aged 65 and above, students, and persons with disabilities will be eligible for the reduced fares upon showing their respective identification cards and national ID cards. The concession is expected to be introduced before the upcoming Eid al-Adha.

The minister also criticised the previous administration, alleging that despite spending over 1 lakh crore taka in the name of railway development, tangible improvements were not achieved.

“On paper, there was development worth more than one lakh crore taka,” he said. “But in reality, railway services did not improve. There are too few engines, trains frequently break down, and services remain unreliable.”

Emphasising the current government’s commitment to reform, Robi said efforts are underway to modernise the railway sector comprehensively. Several ongoing projects aim to increase train speeds and reduce travel time, and steps will be taken to implement them quickly.

He added that new initiatives are also being planned, which, once completed, are expected to make railway services stronger, more efficient and more passenger-friendly.