It is discouraging to note that Bangladesh Railway (BR) has incurred Tk 13,492.70 crore in losses in 12 years between fiscal 2008-09 and FY2019-20, according to BR documents. Reportedly, the state-run transport agency suffered a loss of Tk 2,063.1 crore in FY2019-20, the highest for a single year since FY2008-09. A draft report of the BR shows it posted a loss of Tk 1,384cr during FY2020-21.
It is apprehended that BR will likely miss completion deadlines for 14 of the 20 projects scheduled to end this fiscal year. Reportedly, of the 14, deadlines for 13 have seen at least one revision already, and the authorities are seeking another extension from one to three years for each.
Bangladesh Railway has been providing the services with a network which is not suitable for and oriented to the traffic requirements of the country. The railway network, inherited from British Indian railways, received a relatively meagre allocation of resources in the past decades comparing to the road sector. None of the previous governments of Bangladesh took any initiative for the expansion of rail network in the country.
The government should take
necessary steps
to upgrade the railway to world
standard so that dependence on road
transportation can be minimised
However, the government has taken various initiatives to upgrade and modernise the country's rail transport system. Also, the government is working to bring the whole country under rail network to facilitate transportation of people and goods at a cheaper rate.
Our highways are over burdened with more vehicles they can handle, which is causing fatal accidents on a daily basis.
We must opt for rail travel in order to decrease the number of road accidents. Hence, the government should devise necessary measures to upgrade the railway to world standard so that dependence on road transportation can be minimised. In a land scare country like Bangladesh, there is a need for a paradigm shift from continued investment in the road sector, to developing the railway network and improving its level of services.
A modern railway does not mean new machinery and equipment only. For the new generation speedy trains we need good and solid tracks and digitalised signalling system as well as well trained manpower.
While new generation trained manpower has to be recruited, the mindset of the old staffs will need to be changed and they will need extensive training to be able to operate digitalised modern rail engines and signals.