Suddenly, the train's engine broke down. There was no station nearby. A replacement engine would take about three and a half hours to arrive and get the train running again. During this long wait, passengers and train staff became restless due to hunger and discomfort. At that moment, the people of Pabna, known for their humanity, began offering free lunch to the hungry and thirsty passengers. A Facebook post praising the kindness of Pabna’s people was shared by railway officials and passengers alike.
On Sunday (February 9), Abdul Alim Mithu, the TTI (Train Ticket Examiner) of the Pakshi Western Division of Railways, shared a post on Facebook about the incident. The post highlighted the praise for the people of Pabna.
The "Dhalarchor Express" travels from Dhalarchor in the Bera Upazila of Pabna to Rajshahi and then to Chapainawabganj. On Sunday morning at 7 AM, the train began its journey from Dhalarchor towards Chapainawabganj. Abdul Alim Mithu was on duty aboard this train. Around 8:05 AM, shortly after crossing the Rajapur station of Sathia, the engine suddenly broke down. A replacement engine from Ishwardi arrived at the scene and got the train running again by 11:40 AM.
He explained that during the three and a half hours from 8 AM to 11:30 AM, the passengers on the train became anxious. There were no stations or shops nearby, and both the train staff and passengers, especially with children and elderly, were suffering from hunger and thirst.
Abdul Alim Mithu continued, "Seeing the suffering of the passengers and staff, the people living near the railway line came forward to help. Without any selfish motive, they brought whatever food they had at home. Some brought rice and lentils, others brought khichuri, some brought bread and vegetables, and others brought water. Some even cooked food to bring to the train. They paid special attention to the elderly and children, ensuring everyone was fed and hydrated."
Abdul Alim Mithu reflected on the kindness shown, saying, “I have never seen such a humanitarian gesture. These people, who seemed to be living hand-to-mouth, came forward to help others in their time of need. Once again, the hospitality and selflessness of the people of Pabna was proven.”
A resident of Tathiband village, Azgar Ali, recalled, "When I saw the train had been stopped for a long time, I approached and saw many people suffering from hunger and thirst. There were no shops nearby. I then asked everyone around to bring food and water as best as they could. That’s how it all happened."
A housewife, Rahima Khatun, shared, "It hurts to see people suffer. The train had been stopped not far from my house for a long time, and many people were looking for food and water. I went home and brought whatever rice and lentils I had. It made me feel good to help.”
