THE Bangladesh Railway has proved negligent about the use of substandard materials for repairs, disregarding public safety. A photograph that 抖阴精品 published on May 11 shows that the authorities are using wooden and bamboo sticks instead of iron sheets at the Teesta Rail Bridge in Lalmonirhat. It also shows the rusty and vulnerable metal structures of the bridge. The bridge does not have nuts and bolts in most places while most of the wooden sleepers are damaged at many points. Local people express concern and talk about the structural vulnerability of the bridge. It is shocking that a bridge that is used by 32 pairs of trains every day is left in such a vulnerable state, especially when there is an annual budget allocation for routine maintenance and repairs. They demand an investigation of how the Tk 400,000 allocated for the annual maintenance of the bridge is used. The railway authorities, however, remain unconcerned and insist that the repairs done with bamboo sticks or broken tree branches are not part of the main structure of the bridge and, therefore, carries no risks.
Passengers on other occasions have expressed concern about the use of unconventional materials for repairs of the railway. In 2017, when 50 per cent of the wooden sleepers on a railway bridge on the Dhaka-Sylhet section at Kulaura were damaged, the authorities, used bamboo pieces, instead of proper replacements, to hold together the worn-out sleepers. Because of inadequate maintenance budgets, railway and other infrastructure are in a deplorable condition. Roads have been given special attention and allocated maximum money for expansion and reconstruction since 1985 while nominal allocations have been made for railways. The sector also suffers from inadequate human resources. The shortage of drivers, their assistants and station masters has been a widely reported concern. An earlier record shows that there are 1,085 unauthorised and 2170 unattended level crossings that routinely cause death and injury. Engines dating back to pre-independence days are still used. This is a sign of the dilapidation into which the railway system has fallen. Considering that the railway is less accident-prone and cheaper, all concerned should rehabilitate the risky bridges and damaged railway section immediately.
Despite its decrepit state, the Bangladesh Railway plays an indispensable role in transport and travel. The potential of the railway, therefore, needs to be unlocked with planned investment in lines, signaling, rolling stock, maintenance and human resources. The government should take the initiative to prepare a master plan to guide the overall development of the railway in the foreseeable future. It is high time that the government recognised the importance of the sector and made policy changes so that the railway can play its role to the fullest.