Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Sunday's The Daily Star report headlined 'Railway on the wane'.
Anonymous
The same old story. We better wait to listen to the prime minister because the minister in charge already lost his credibility and trustworthiness. Mahbub
Last few years, the allocated budget was used to remodelling of station building instead of track maintenance which is mostly unnecessary - but done to award lucrative contract to party man. Anowar Hossain Sumon
For the worst condition of Railway Department the previous governments are responsible including the present ruling party. However, we expect the present government will do something for its betterment. Anonymous
Government should heavily involve in massive container handling system project. Railway should become profitable. A part of BR can be given to the private sector - for logistics. We need a massive railway cargo system in Bangladesh. Mhd Karim
Sky is not the limit of corruption in Railway-that is the main reason. We can easily turn around our land communication using railway at a much cheaper cost. But why should we do it when ministers can't make big amount of illegal money? Tamim Billah
People feel more comfortable in train journey than road. Moreover, it is safer than any other vehicle. Government should increase locomotive and install new rail tracks. The development of railway is more important for our communication system. Husna
The biggest blow to our railway came after independence because we had to give up precious equipment from Saidpur workshop and locomotives to our friend India as booty or maybe independence fee. Indira Gandhi should have had more sympathy for the poor newborn nation. Mohammed Shah Alam Khan
It is surprising where the population of the country is increasing on the other hand the passengers carrying capacity of railway is falling. Government should try to solve the communication problems but Bangladesh government is not taking care of it. It is funny, the communication minister failed in road communication as well as real communication. Abul Hossain is a failed minister and he has no choice but to resign. Ferdous Jalil
This is very scary. There's another reason for inflation. Rail transportation allows goods to be transported cheaply. Before it's too late, our government(s) should bring glory to this mode of transportation, with new technologies. China has invested a lot in rail transportation because it knows the importance of rail after 2025! India has a huge network and people in India still depend on it. The same is true for most of the countries in Europe. As a start, Bangladesh should double its existing rail tracks and expand the network to as many districts as possible! Dr Karim
Railway can be a good example. It is used by the lower middle class and poor. Politics are controlled by the rich and middle class. So, good governance is not happening due to lack of target people for whom democracy came to this country. So, budget is more diverted to Express Highways, airports or importing cars for the rich with their black money legitimated by the government. That's the plain truth. Infrastructural development in communication sector is still in primitive level and still our ministers are roaring to convert the country to Digital Bangladesh. S. Ali
Destroying BR had begun since liberation. Stone pebbles were looted. Shuttle engines imported during Zia's tenure did not last even a year. Subsequently, all the government neglected the cheapest, safest and most comfortable communication sector for cheap gains and being rich overnight by allowing random import of motor vehicles. BR could never regain its strength as destruction of it was well-planned and still is in process. Now for the sake of transit only a section of railway may be improved but the whole network will not to be made up-to-date. BR is the glaring example how the governments behave after coming to power with popular votes!
The same old story. We better wait to listen to the prime minister because the minister in charge already lost his credibility and trustworthiness. Mahbub
Last few years, the allocated budget was used to remodelling of station building instead of track maintenance which is mostly unnecessary - but done to award lucrative contract to party man. Anowar Hossain Sumon
For the worst condition of Railway Department the previous governments are responsible including the present ruling party. However, we expect the present government will do something for its betterment. Anonymous
Government should heavily involve in massive container handling system project. Railway should become profitable. A part of BR can be given to the private sector - for logistics. We need a massive railway cargo system in Bangladesh. Mhd Karim
Sky is not the limit of corruption in Railway-that is the main reason. We can easily turn around our land communication using railway at a much cheaper cost. But why should we do it when ministers can't make big amount of illegal money? Tamim Billah
People feel more comfortable in train journey than road. Moreover, it is safer than any other vehicle. Government should increase locomotive and install new rail tracks. The development of railway is more important for our communication system. Husna
The biggest blow to our railway came after independence because we had to give up precious equipment from Saidpur workshop and locomotives to our friend India as booty or maybe independence fee. Indira Gandhi should have had more sympathy for the poor newborn nation. Mohammed Shah Alam Khan
It is surprising where the population of the country is increasing on the other hand the passengers carrying capacity of railway is falling. Government should try to solve the communication problems but Bangladesh government is not taking care of it. It is funny, the communication minister failed in road communication as well as real communication. Abul Hossain is a failed minister and he has no choice but to resign. Ferdous Jalil
This is very scary. There's another reason for inflation. Rail transportation allows goods to be transported cheaply. Before it's too late, our government(s) should bring glory to this mode of transportation, with new technologies. China has invested a lot in rail transportation because it knows the importance of rail after 2025! India has a huge network and people in India still depend on it. The same is true for most of the countries in Europe. As a start, Bangladesh should double its existing rail tracks and expand the network to as many districts as possible! Dr Karim
Railway can be a good example. It is used by the lower middle class and poor. Politics are controlled by the rich and middle class. So, good governance is not happening due to lack of target people for whom democracy came to this country. So, budget is more diverted to Express Highways, airports or importing cars for the rich with their black money legitimated by the government. That's the plain truth. Infrastructural development in communication sector is still in primitive level and still our ministers are roaring to convert the country to Digital Bangladesh. S. Ali
Destroying BR had begun since liberation. Stone pebbles were looted. Shuttle engines imported during Zia's tenure did not last even a year. Subsequently, all the government neglected the cheapest, safest and most comfortable communication sector for cheap gains and being rich overnight by allowing random import of motor vehicles. BR could never regain its strength as destruction of it was well-planned and still is in process. Now for the sake of transit only a section of railway may be improved but the whole network will not to be made up-to-date. BR is the glaring example how the governments behave after coming to power with popular votes!
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