Protect railway
The railway is the most important means of communication in respect of carrying both passengers and freight in the world. That is why the governments of the developing countries take special care of the railway. But in the case of Bangladesh, we get a different picture. Almost every day the television channels telecast news of train accidents, untold sufferings of the passengers and initiative to restore snapped train communication.
When there is a train accident between Tongi and Narsingdi railway stations, the train communication between Dhaka and Chittagong, and Dhaka and Sylhet remains suspended for hours. It is really true that the re-born rail way railway ministry has failed to reduce the number of train accidents in the country despite the fact that government claims of allocating more fund for the development of the railway track.
Bangladesh Railway is divided into five divisions namely Paksey, Lalmonirhat, Dhaka, Bhairob Bazar and Chittagong. Perhaps about a decade ago, the government created two railway zones namely West Zone comprising Paksey and Lalmonirhat divisions, and East Zone comprising Dhaka, Bhairob Bazar and Chittagong divisions. But little progress has been observed. Rather closure of railway stations, remarkable shortage of manpower, decrease of passengers and train accidents continue. We think that the railway ministry may seek advice from the Indian counterpart because the Indian Railway is the second largest in the world.
Khurshida Haque
Parbatipur
