The government has decided to develop a seamless and time-efficient rail communication network across the country, aiming to modernise Bangladesh’s railway system.
The decision was taken at a meeting on the future planning of Bangladesh Railway held on Tuesday morning at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration Room at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Briefing reporters, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said the meeting discussed both medium- and long-term development plans for the railway sector.
“Detailed discussions were held on the modernisation of Bangladesh Railway, including phased conversion of metre-gauge lines from Panchagarh to Cox’s Bazar into broad-gauge lines and upgrading the signalling system,” he said.
Shiplu also said issues related to financing of these plans were discussed at the meeting, with the Prime Minister giving necessary directives.
Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam, and Director General of Bangladesh Railway Afzal Hossain, among others, were present.