LINGERING shortage of train operators and other essential staff for the past two decades has hobbled the services of Bangladesh Railway, the largest public transport sector in the country. Even though a large-scale recruitment began last year, the situation is not going to improve soon. The Railway is still short of nearly 12,000 people and the crisis of loco-masters (drivers), their assistants and station masters would continue for five more years.It takes a long time for a train driver to be competent. Some 230 assistant drivers were recruited last year but they would qualify to run trains after seven years of training. The Railway has 601 drivers in place of the 1,245 it needs, according to the Railway’s Official Data. The crisis forced the railway to hire 86 retired drivers on contract. Once overstaffed with 60,000 employees during the Pakistan era, donors advised the railway to reduce the headcount to cut losses.The Railway lost half its manpower by 2000 — it suspended recruitment in 1985 and sent 10,000 workers into retirement through a plan named golden handshake in 1992. The total workforce came down to 23,624 in 2012 as a number of fresh hiring processes later were marred by corruption and irregularities. This crisis of workers forced the railway to close a number of money-losing routes, sheds, depots and stations. Some passenger train services were also stopped, according to the Railway’s Information Book 2009. About 140 stations were closed, shrinking rail services. Besides, two to three stations were being closed every year.Years of attrition, corruption, interference in appointments from powerful quarters and legal wrangling are responsible for the sorry state of the once most effective and cheap transport system for millions. Some railway officials also alleged several syndicates of politicians, Railway officials and ruling Awami League-backed union leaders had their hands in the recruitment process to get their men in, as per the report.Considering that a significant portion of our people live below the poverty line a thesis dissertation is not needed to understand that the vast majority of our citizens depend on the railways as the only safe and cost effective way to travel long distances. It makes no sense that 60,000 jobs existed before independence when our population was less than half of what it is now – in fact had the railways kept up with population growth the services offered by it would be more extensive, timely and efficient than the existing set of affairs, where customers can’t get tickets over the counter and forced to buy from the blackers. And the time schedule is frequently disturbed. In more simple words, railway is now known more for its ‘back-cats’ and compounded inefficiency.This state of affairs can be changed by getting rid of the legal formalities and by ensuring transparency but the reality remains that those in charge may find it easier to fill their pockets than be bothered about changing the state of the rails.
