Bangladesh Railway lost Tk 940 million to violent agitation by the BNP-led alliance during the past one year, Railway Minister Mujibul Hoque has told Parliament.
Faced with growing unrest, the railway had raised the number of its security personnel by about 1,500.
The minister gave this information on Monday while replying to the questions by two MPs.
To the question by Mahmud-us Samad Chowdhury, Hoque said: “Bangladesh Railway sustained a loss of Tk 240 million from Feb 28 to Nov-end and Tk 700 from Nov to Dec-end due to the destructive and subversive acts by terrorists of BNP-Jamaat alliance.”
Answering to a query by Habibur Rahman Mollah, he said the Railway Ministry had proposed to the home ministry the raising of the number of superintendents of police by two and members by 441 in the railway security department.
He said the government would recruit more personnel in railway police, if necessary.
The minister accused BNP chief Khaleda Zia of instigating violence in which “seven people were killed and 49 injured” in train accidents triggered by acts of sabotage.
He said 62 cases had been filed and 246 arrested over attacks on the railway.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told the House that subversion by the 18-Party Alliance caused Tk 112.53 million loss to the Roads and Highways department Tk 582.77 million to Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation.
He gave this information while replying to a question by Israfil Alam.
To another query – this one by Moazzemn Hossain Ratan – the minister said a city needed roads on 20-25 percent of its total land area for a smooth transport system. “But there is only 7-8 percent (in Dhaka). And many hawkers and shops occupy the street.”
He said the government was working hard to prevent an increase in the number of makeshift vehicles and encroachment on roads and footpaths.
He said the district deputy commissioners had been told to stop movement of these engine-driven contraptions on highways.
Source: bdnews24
