As countries like China have demonstrated to the world in recent times, a fast and efficient railway system can transform the face of an economy. Bangladesh, at least on a theoretical level, has embraced the need for a good train system, but our reality is still far from matching our expectations.
It is disappointing to hear that 72% of the locomotives of Bangladesh Railway have become outdated, and only 10 new engines have been procured in the last 10 years. This is shabby performance on our part, and there is very little excuse for it.
The government has made it clear that railway services are indeed a top priority. Indeed, it is our ticket to achieving greater connectivity not just within the country, but also with our neighbours. A generous budget had also been allocated to the sector, and yet, since the 2014-2015 fiscal year, not a single new locomotive was procured.
Promises abound for ambitious procurement plans, but without stringent oversight and rigorous implementation, the money earmarked for this crucial part of our nation’s development will end up somewhere else. That would be a terrible failure, and a colossal waste. We are in the middle of a pandemic and finances are tight -- not a single taka can be wasted.
Good, updated trains and rail networks are, of course, not just a matter of development, but a very real safety concern. In recent times, we have seen a number of derailments, resulting in fatalities. As long as we keep using old, outdated engines in operation while neglecting the plans for upgradation, tragic accidents will keep happening.
It is time to clean up our act. To that end, our railway authorities should be held accountable for the state of disrepair the sector presently finds itself in.
