Rail Day observed today for the 1st time in 158 years

For the first time in railways' 158-year-old history, railways authority today observed "Rail Day" to mark the instalment of rail line in the territory of the then undivided Bengal on this day in 1862.

Railways ministry and Bangladesh Railway (BR) jointly organised a discussion at Rail Bhaban today to celebrate the day.

Rail transport in this region began on November 15, 1862, when 53km rail line was opened between Darshana in Chuadanga and Jogotee in Kushtia.

Speaking at the programme, Railways Minister Nulul Islam Sujan said it is important to know history and tradition, otherwise it is not possible to move forward. He said among all other organisations, railway is the richest historically.

He said railway played a significant role in social and economic development of the country.

During the Liberation War, Pakistani forces damaged the railway largely and after the war, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started restoring it. But railway lagged behind due to the flawed policies of successive governments, he added.

The incumbent government is giving priority to the rail sector, he said, adding that he hoped they would be able to bring back the previous glory of railways.

Railways ministry's secretary Salim Reza, BR's additional director general (operations) Mia Jahan, ADG (infrastructure) DN Majumder, among others, spoke at the programme with BR's director general Md Shamsuzzaman in the chair.

Earlier, Md Shamsuzzman took part at a programme at Kamalapur Railway Station to mark the day.