Railway incurred Tk 24cr loss for BNP hartals

Bangladesh Railway has incurred a loss of Tk24 crore due to “violence and subversive activities” carried out by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami men during hartals since February 28, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque told parliament yesterday.
He was responding to a query tabled by Awami League lawmaker Nasimul Haq Chowdhury.
The railway, noted the minister, was implementing 48 projects involving Tk23,780.06 crore to improve passenger services and make its network more dynamic.
Of the schemes, 44 are investment projects and the rest are technical assistant projects, mentioned Mujibul.
Under the projects, metre gauge, broad gauge and dual gauge railway track will be laid, while two cranes and 20-set commuter trains will be procured.
The construction of the Second Bhairab Bridge and Second Titas Bridge will also be completed under these projects, maintained the minister.
Most of the schemes are scheduled to be completed between 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscal years.
19.5cr REGISTERED VEHICLES
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader informed the House that the country has 19.5 crore registered vehicles.
Responding to lawmakers' queries, he said 14.5 crore drivers had valid licences and five lakh more might have fake ones.
But, interestingly, deducting the valid driving licence owners (14.5 crore) from the total number of vehicles (19.5 crore), the result is five crore.
No correction was made on this issue either from the minister or from the parliament secretariat during yesterday's sitting.