Bangladesh Railway is a national service providing organization. It is important to utilize the budget for rail to make it a self dependent one. At the same time for a secured, low costly for both passenger and freight transport and comfortable communication system we need to consider the importance of railway. It will also ensure environment friendly and traffic jam free journey and also proper use of land. If one thinks about decentralization then a developed railway communication system is indeed a good solution. Bangladesh Railway’s service should not be measured on profit and loss rather it should be measured on the service it is providing. The decision of increasing rail fare will lessen peoples’ interest on rail journey and gradually rail will become a commercial organization. So the concentration should be on proper resource management rather than increasing rail fare. On 8th April, 2015; Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) and Work for A Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized a press conference for this appeal.

Assistant Project Officer Md. Atiqur Rahman was the keynote speaker of the press conference and National Advocacy Officer Maruf Hossain was the moderator. Abu Naser Khan, Chairman, Poribesh Bachao Abdolon (POBA) was the chairman of the press conference. Former Politician, Pankaj Bhattacharya; Engineer Abdus Sobhan, former Additional Director, Department of Environment and Secretary, Poribesh Bachao Abdolon (POBA); Tofayel Ahmed, Executive, Poribesh Bachao Abdolon (POBA); Naznin Kabir, Senior Project Officer, Work for A Better Bangladesh Trust; Abul Hasnat, Modern Club; Monjur Hasan Dilu, Executive, Poribesh Bachao Abdolon (POBA); Padmabati Devi, Ain o Shalish Kendra etc were present as guest.

Engineer Abdus Sobhan said that present resource and facilities of Bangladesh Railway are not being properly utilized. Because of lack in planning we are utilizing only 75%. As a result there is no constant development in railway. Lands owned by railway should be used for railways only and initiatives should be taken to recover the money railway lend to different organizations.

Pankaj Bhattacharya said railway is an environment and cost friendly communication system.  Development of railway lies with the development of both passengers and freight transport. Lands around railway must be used for increasing rails’ income. Such as- building residential hotel, markets etc. Railway should be linked with ports and industries around the country. Some benefits should be provided to the small entrepreneurs.  

Maruf Hossain said that railway can be self depended if proper land use, freight transport development and recovery of money is ensured. The amount of money for leased lands of rail should be realized properly. Initiatives should be taken to recover rails’ property and advocates should be appointed if necessary.  Various initiatives like tree plantation can be taken, that will be beneficiary for both railways and local people.

Tofayel Ahmed sail that Bangladesh Railway is not a commercial organization. In many countries of the world rail service is being provided by giving subsidy. 23 countries of the world has made rail self depended and their rail fare is less than Bangladesh. More over 53 countries are continuing to provide service through subsidy. To increase income of rail we need to link it up with garments and other industrial sector, agriculture sector and many more. We need to do some promotional activities to make rail popular. At the same time, we need to develop railway infrastructure to carry perishable goods.

Abu Naser Khan, chairman of the press conference said that, within next 10-15 years Bangladesh is going to be a middle-income country. Bangladesh does not have the capacity to tackle the increased traffic volume of that time. Railway can be a good solution for the future. Bangladesh needs to develop ICD network, take initiatives for freight transport in Trans-Asian rail route, and create space and infrastructure for loading and unloading products in order to increase rails’ income.