AL govt misused public money in the name of railway development: railway adviser

The AL government misused public money in the name of developing the railway sector in the country during its 15-year rule, said Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Railways of the interim government.
The adviser made these comments while he was visiting the Central Locomotive Workshop (Keloka) in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur today.
After arriving at Saidpur Airport, the adviser went to Keloka at around 11:00am by road.
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan criticised the previous AL government for the billions of taka that was squandered without focusing on improving passenger services or facilities.
“The previous government expanded the network everywhere without any proper studies, but the quality of services and passenger benefits were largely ignored,” he said.
He accused the past AL government of building extravagant railway stations in places like Gopalganj, allegedly to appease the then ministers and MPs, even where such infrastructure was not needed.
Additionally, he cited the Karnaphuli Tunnel, constructed at a cost of Tk 10,000 crore, as an example of ineffective planning, claiming that it currently sees little to no vehicular use.
Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan emphasised the need for a fresh approach to railway development, including plans to enhance passenger services and address staff shortages.
“New strategies will be adopted to improve services and rethink the overall development of the railway sector,” he assured.
Following his inspection, the adviser held discussions with officials and employees of the locomotive workshop. Senior officials from the Ministry of Railways, including the Secretary, were present during the visit.
Later, the adviser visited another railway workshop in Saidpur in the afternoon.