Tk 163cr lost in roads, railways
Country's major communications sector—road and railway network—incurred a loss of Tk 163 crore due to massive acts of sabotage carried out by the BNP-Jamaat combine last year, two ministers told parliament yesterday.
Of the massive loss, the Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation suffered net losses of Tk 69.52 crore and the railways the rest, according to information provided by communications and railways ministers.
Replying to legislators' queries, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque said nine people were killed and 53 others injured by the hit-and-run attacks by the BNP-Jamaat rowdies on the railways.
“Some 246 people were arrested in 62 cases filed for creating mayhem on the railways. Law enforcers are trying their best to nab other perpetrators,” he added.
In a scripted reply, Mujibul said his ministry incurred a Tk 879 crore loss in the 2012-13 fiscal year—up from Tk 657 crore in the fiscal 2008-09.
But he did not give any details about those losses.
The minister, however, mentioned that the overall expenses of railways have been increased due to rounds of fuel price hikes, and the increase of staff salary and maintenance costs.
“That's why, expenses of the railways are a bit higher than its income.”
Replying to another query, Mujibul alleged that with the “direct provocation” of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jamaat-Shibir men run amok across the country to destroy rail communications.
The saboteurs resorted to subversion only to save their leaders convicted of committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, he mentioned.
“Khaleda and the anti-liberation forces must be defeated at the hands of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the minister reiterated.
About his ministry's plan to prevent violence in the railways, Mujibul said a proposal to recruit around 1,441 railway police, including two police super, is now under the government's consideration.
About the progress on the construction of 87.18km Joydevpur-Mymensingh four-lane road, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told the House that around 20 percent work of its 30.25km Joydevpur intersection to Nayanpur portion has so far been completed.
“Around 35 percent work of another 56.93km of the road, stretching from Nayanpur to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, has also been done.”
The minister said hectic efforts are on to complete the project by 2015.
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