Digital Bangladesh?
Some time ago, anxious to buy a railway ticket for over Eid, I went to Banani Railway Station, as instructed by the friends I am visiting, to buy the ticket I needed for a journey on November 13th. I was told I could not book until 9 days before the journey i.e. November 4th, so, on that afternoon, I duly joined the queue. After a time, there was an electricity cut and we were informed that, as the ticket machine worked by electricity, we would have to wait an hour. I waited in my car for an hour but, when I returned and was kindly pushed to the front of the queue, I was taken to one side and informed that the ticket could not be given to me as I had to get it on my mobile. My mind boggled. I was told I had to go to the Grameen Centre. Now in a daze, my car faced the jams back to Gulshan 2 once more.
At the Grameen Centre, I encountered the man giving out the numbered tickets to gain access to the counter. When I told him what I wanted, he told me, confidently, that I should go to the railway station!
The process there had taken nearly 3 hours, even with a car and driver - and the kindness of several individuals.
I appreciate the attempts of Bangladesh (i.e. the transport department and the Grameen) to introduce us to the privileges and responsibilities of the digital age but would it be possible to organise it a bit better? For instance, could some of the 'helpful' leaflets be available in English and could people be told earlier in the process how to share with customers what they are meant to do? Why was I not given the right information on my first visit to the railway station? And as for ticket-machines that do not work in electricity cuts - it makes me wonder whether the adoption of the 'digital' - or any other - method is the sole answer. Would it not be simpler - and kinder - in the long run, to find ways of managing necessary jobs so that employees do not end up looking incompetent in the eyes of the public, whatever the method?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments