Staff Reporter :
Despite the establishment of a dedicated ministry for railway transportation development twelve years ago, experts point out that railway services in Bangladesh remain insufficient to meet the escalating demand for train travel.
This gap in service quality comes into sharper focus against the backdrop of a significant increase in road accidents, prompting a shift in public preference towards rail journeys as a safer alternative.
In 2023, Bangladesh experienced a staggering 6,929 accidents across its roads, railways, and waterways, leading to 8,505 fatalities and 10,999 injuries, according to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.
The road sector alone accounted for 6,261 of these incidents, resulting in 7,902 deaths and 10,372 injuries. Meanwhile, the railway sector witnessed 520 accidents, culminating in 512 deaths and 475 injuries.
Waterway incidents added to the grim tally with 148 accidents, 91 fatalities, 152 injuries, and 109 missing persons.
Stakeholders have voiced concerns that the railway ministry could have undertaken more initiatives, such as increasing ticket availability, expanding the number of trains, upgrading rail tracks, and ensuring punctual schedules, to improve the situation.
Recent times have seen a surge in train accidents, particularly derailments, attributed to the ageing infrastructure and a lack of proper maintenance. These derailments not only cause delays but also disrupt rail connectivity for other trains, affecting tens of thousands of passengers caught mid-journey until the tracks are cleared.
Experts said that the railway authorities have to be more equipped with modern equipment to address the challenges the rails face during the journey.
The demand for train journeys increases severalfold during Eid festivals due to the high demand for tickets as passengers want to reach their hometowns and villages at the same time. However, the railway authorities cannot provide sufficient tickets as they do not have enough rails during these pressing times.
Experts stress the need for Bangladesh’s railway authorities to adopt modern equipment to overcome the operational challenges faced by the railway system.
The demand for train travel surges, particularly during the Eid festivals, as people rush to secure tickets to travel to their hometowns and villages. However, the scarcity of available trains during these peak times leads to a shortage of tickets.
Kamalapur Railway Station, for instance, reports sales of 33,500 tickets daily for passengers leaving Dhaka for Eid-ul-Fitr, underscoring the high demand.
In response to the growing need for improved railway services, the government has taken a significant step by deciding to purchase 200 broad-gauge passenger carriages at a cost of Tk 1,626 crore.
This decision, approved by the government procurement committee chaired by Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, aims to enhance the capacity and efficiency of Bangladesh Railway.
The Secretary of Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reforms), Mahmudul Hossain Khan, announced that the European Investment Bank (EIB) would finance this initiative, with the Indian company BEITIS Limited supplying the carriages.
This move is seen as critical to advancing the railway ministry’s goals of developing a more robust and sustainable rail network across the country. Experts argue that modernising the train network will not only improve travel efficiency but also alleviate congestion in the capital by enabling people to reside in their cities and commute to work by train.
The creation of a separate railway ministry in 2011 was initially lauded by civil rights organisations, which called for long-term planning and sufficient budget allocation for the railway’s upgrade. Their emphasis on locomotives, bogies, rail tracks, and manpower highlighted the comprehensive development needed to revitalize Bangladesh’s railways.
