The two-day long 43rd Annual Sports Competition-2024 organised by the Bangladesh Railway Sports Control Board in an auspicious atmosphere was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Railway Polo Ground by Railway Minister Md Zillul Hakim.
Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Kamrul Ahsan, Railway General Manager (East) Md Nazmul Islam and other senior officials, were present on the occasion.
At that time, the Railway Minister said that the railway athletes once set a shining example of success in the national sports field. He also commented that the annual sports competition will play a significant role in restoring the lost heritage of railways in the sports arena.
After the meeting with the railway officials in the rest house of the railway east zone, the new railway minister exchanged views with the journalists.
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has brought crippled railways to a good position. The Prime Minister has brought the railways to the pinnacle of development since coming to power. New engines purchased, carriages brought in, new railway lines laid. Adding new engines to the rail fleet will alleviate the shortage of engines in the railways, which were once on the verge of being shut down. In the future, transport of farmers' produce, such as mangoes to Rajshahi, will be readily available. However, railway training, driver skills, lack of technical people, recruitment was stopped for many years. Now recruiting new. All these need to be activated now. I have taken on new responsibilities, need some time to understand everything.
He said that the old Kalurghat bridge is being repaired. The traffic on this bridge will start in the middle of March. The new Kalurghat Bridge is likely to be completed in 4 to 5 years. The train is still being set on fire. Even then, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is decorating the railways.
Every district of Bangladesh is working to be brought under the scope of rail communication. A commuter train will be launched on the Cox's Bazar route in a few months. There is a shortage of skilled people in railways which is being trained to make them efficient.
We want to start. Not everything is being done now for the driver and engine crisis. If you make a place to sit first, you will have a place to sleep. I am willing to accept the challenge, I will continue the Prime Minister's activities on railways, he wants the railways to be more developed.
Finally, the Railway Minister was felicitated with flowers and crest by the Railway Journalists’ Association.
