Violence cost railways Tk 360 mln

Bangladesh Railway suffered damages amounting to Tk 360 million in the recent spate of violence by the BNP-led Opposition, Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque has said.

He said the incumbent government had undertaken 38 projects costing Tk 183.1 billion so far to improve the railways.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working for the development of railways while miscreants instigated by [Opposition Leader] Khaleda Zia are sabotaging the sector," Hoque said at a programme in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The minister said railways were neglected during the past BNP-Jamaat coalition government's 2001-6 rule. The Awami League government formed a separate railway ministry to facilitate the development of the sector, he said.

Railways had been targeted during recent Opposition agitations.

Hoque inaugurated the 'Train Information Display System', designed to inform the travellers of the train schedules.

The Advance Rail Track Solution (ARTS) Bangladesh Limited is implementing the project. It is expected to be completed within the next five years.

ARTS Managing Director Nuruddin Ahmed told bdnews24.com that passengers will be able to view timetable for trains of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet with the new system.

The monitor will display timetables of nine trains at least two hours before their departure and arrival.