Govt inspector turns down BR request
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
The government inspector has turned down the railway authorities' "special request" for allowing Indian container-wagons to ply across the Bangabandhu Bridge, reports bdnews24.com.
Government railway inspector Abu Taher said that his department had sent back Bangladesh Railway's request letter, as it had no mention of the entry points and destinations of the Indian container-wagons.
Bangladesh Railway (BR), a department under communications ministry, on November 10 had sent a letter to the inspector seeking permission to carry container-wagons across the bridge, which connects Dhaka with northern parts of the country.
Railway sources said at least one Indian railway wagon entered Bangladesh everyday through Benapole, Darshana and Rahanpur - all located in the country's northern part.
"The BR letter has not mentioned the entry points of the Indian wagon-containers," Taher told the news agency Sunday.
"We have sent the letter back to BR seeking clarifications on their entry points, routes and destinations.
"The BR letter has not taken safety of the lines into consideration while making the request," he said.
The government inspector monitors the safety condition of the rail tracts and the BR must get clearance from his office for launching any new trains or services.
BR Director General (DG) Md Belayet Hossain in the letter to the inspector had said two types of Indian container-wagons were fit for plying over Bangabandhu Bridge, which had a load limit.
"We will certainly clarify the points raised by the inspector," Hossain told the agency Sunday.
India has been pressing Bangladesh for years to allow its goods-laden container-wagons to come straight to capital Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh.
Businessmen say the cost of Indian products would be cheaper in Bangladesh if the container-wagons could be brought straight to Dhaka by railway.
The railway authorities don't agree to allow India carrying goods over the bridge, as it cannot carry the load of most of the Indian container-wagons.
Government railway inspector Abu Taher said that his department had sent back Bangladesh Railway's request letter, as it had no mention of the entry points and destinations of the Indian container-wagons.
Bangladesh Railway (BR), a department under communications ministry, on November 10 had sent a letter to the inspector seeking permission to carry container-wagons across the bridge, which connects Dhaka with northern parts of the country.
Railway sources said at least one Indian railway wagon entered Bangladesh everyday through Benapole, Darshana and Rahanpur - all located in the country's northern part.
"The BR letter has not mentioned the entry points of the Indian wagon-containers," Taher told the news agency Sunday.
"We have sent the letter back to BR seeking clarifications on their entry points, routes and destinations.
"The BR letter has not taken safety of the lines into consideration while making the request," he said.
The government inspector monitors the safety condition of the rail tracts and the BR must get clearance from his office for launching any new trains or services.
BR Director General (DG) Md Belayet Hossain in the letter to the inspector had said two types of Indian container-wagons were fit for plying over Bangabandhu Bridge, which had a load limit.
"We will certainly clarify the points raised by the inspector," Hossain told the agency Sunday.
India has been pressing Bangladesh for years to allow its goods-laden container-wagons to come straight to capital Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh.
Businessmen say the cost of Indian products would be cheaper in Bangladesh if the container-wagons could be brought straight to Dhaka by railway.
The railway authorities don't agree to allow India carrying goods over the bridge, as it cannot carry the load of most of the Indian container-wagons.