JS body for modernisation of railway

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts Thursday called for modernisation and development of Bangladesh Railway up to the level of the neighbouring countries, reports BSS. Expressing dissatisfaction over the failure to fully utilize the capacity of the railway, the 65th meeting of the committee recommended quick modernisation of railway against the backdrop of linking the country with Trans-Asian railway in near future. Presided over by committee Chairman Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, the meeting was attended by its members Prof M Ali Ashraf, Chief Whip M Abdus Shaheed, Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, M Imaz Uddin and Narayan Chandra Chanda. The meeting discussed audit objections raised in Comptroller and Auditor General's Performance Report 2001-2004 on the road and railway division of communications ministry. The meeting was told that the government has taken 29 development projects involving Tk 160 billion under the road and railway division. The railway will turn into a profit-making concern with the implementation of the projects by 2013. Comptroller and auditor general of Bangladesh, communications secretary and senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.