Govt eying pvt investment to improve rly services: Habibur

State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said on Wednesday the government was considering private investment for the railway sector to improve passenger services.
He said that the government was working with long-term plans to modernize the country's railway system and make it more time-befitting, smart and profitable.
In an interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) at his office in the Ministry of Railways, the state minister shared his views for overall development of the railway sector.
Regarding private investment, he said, like many other countries, Bangladesh was also considering increasing private sector participation in the railway sector.
However, no final decision has been made yet in this regard, he added.
He said that private investment could enhance the service quality and competitiveness, although overall supervision would remain under the government control.
The state minister said that initiatives have been taken to gradually convert the railway system to broad gauge in order to keep pace with global standards, but completing the process may take 15 to 20 years.