People from all walks of life formed a human chain yesterday beside Panchagarh-Dhaka highway, urging Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take steps to start the long-awaited intercity train service from Panchagarh and Thakurgaon to Dhaka.

The human chain followed a meeting in front of Sher-e-Bangla Park in the town under the banner of Rail Jogajog Unnayan Parishad.

The prime minister at a public meeting in the town on January 30 in 2013 announced that the intercity train service would start from the district after completion of the rail track, they said.

The PM also gave assurance in a video conference on January 4 this year  that the intercity service from Panchagarh to Dhaka would start soon.

Speakers at the meeting said the intercity train service has not started, although the work of setting up a dual-gauge rail track from Panchagarh to Parbatipur, involving Tk 982 crore, was completed one year ago. 

They also demanded extension of the rail track up to Banglabandha Land Port to facilitate business in the region.