Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque on Monday said the government has taken a 30-year programme for developing and expanding countrywide railway connectivity.
“The government has taken a 30-year extensive programme aiming to enhance railway connectivity to the southern and coastal region for bringing a revolutionary change in the railway communication across the country”, the minister said.
He made the remark on behalf of Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujon during a question-answer session.
The newly enhanced programme will cover the railway connectivity to Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Meherpur and Manikganj and now the feasibility study is underway in this regard, said the minister.
To develop railway communication, Dr Razzaque said the government has procured 300-metre gauge, and 50 broad gauge passenger coaches from Indonesia in the last ten years.
Even the government also procured 120 broad gauge passenger coaches from India during that time.
Apart from this, procurement of more 150-metre gauge,200 broad gauge passenger coaches from South Korea and 100 broad gauge railway coaches from China is now underway.
Blaming the BNP government led by Begum Khaleda Zia, the agriculture minister said the then BNP government had destroyed different important sectors including the railway during their regime while the British colonial government had established a developed railway communication across the Indian subcontinent.
On the other hand, the ruling Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after coming to power has taken and implemented various programmes to make the railway sector viable for the people, the minister added.
