Neglected railways
The passengers have halved, while the population has doubled. For proper and attractive operations and maintenance, the budget is short (manpower and equipment, spares and BMRE) to the extent of 50 per cent, year after year.
The political mantra has been "roads, bridges, and culverts." Good, but why neglect the railway network, which are well-established service institutions in any country. In a low delta region, with 300-500 rivers and large canals, imagine building 10 bridges and culverts on each river (average, based on running miles).
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The IWT (inland river transport) has also been neglected (you can reach 90 per cent of the country through water routes), judging by the numerous launch mishaps (informal sector, without institution-based shipyards, training centres and strong regulatory network). Travelling is a torture in Bangladesh!
The weak point: there is no balance in politicians' enthusiasm. In the LDCs, local politics has more respect than professional long-term approaches in the larger interest of the nation. The reason is simple: too much narrow-minded focus on politics, neglecting other social sides of development. There is a mania for opening ceremonies.
Now we have enough roads culverts and bridges to last for a while; hence attention may be paid to modernise the railway system to serve for the next 50 years.
Due to violence and terrorism patronised by politics, it is unsafe to travel by road (plus poor driving and accident records), and through inland water transport (launch phobia).
BR can quickly handle the fast development projects during the next five to ten years, if the co-operation from the higher authorities is forthcoming. There are imbalances in staff strengths in different departments, which could be corrected quickly. Keep them busy, and the efficiency and dedication will rise automatically.
The road transport private sector can take care of itself now, but the railway is still under public control, and suffering due to wrong policies.
The morale is down due to step-motherly treatment.