Dhaka And Chittagong To Be Split Into Two New Divisions: PM

Dhaka will also be divided into two divisional administrative units, she said, adding the government has already taken an administrative decision in this regard.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating Laksam to Chinki Astana Double Rail Line Track through a video conference from her official residence Ganobhaban here this afternoon.

Sheikh Hasina said the divisions would be divided as the government has decided to decentralize the administration which Bangabandhu had initiated by creating 64 districts from 19 subdivisions after independence.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the work of remodeling of Chittagong Station Yard, Laksam-Akhaura Dual-Gauge Double Rail Line and the work of turning the existing rail line into double gauge.

Railway Minister Mujibul Haque, Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal and local parliament member Tajul Islam, who were present at the Laksam end, also spoke on the occasion.

Under the Laksam-Chinki Astana Double Line Project, a total of 80.47 kilometre double rail tracks were constructed from Laksam to Chinki Astana, Mirersari of Chittagong at a cost of around Taka 1,607 crore.

This line will link Laksam junction, Naoty, Nangolcourt, Hasanpur, Gunaboti, Sharshadi, Feni junction, Kalidah, Fazilpur, Muhurigani and Chinki Astana stations on Dhaka-Chittagong rail route.

The double rail line will help operate a train at an 80 kilometer speed in this section reducing travel time by 25 minutes. Besides, a maximum of 70 pairs of train will run on this route every day instead of the current 36 pairs.

The Prime Minister said her government is trying to develop the railway as a modern and time-befitting mass transport. But, BNP and Jamaat over the last few years in the name of movement caused unprecedented damage to the sector mostly used by the poor and middle-class people.

Sheikh Hasina said Dhaka-Chittagong Double Line tracks would be commissioned by 2019 and the government is actively working to expedite the implementation of Dohazari-Gundum Rail Line which will be linked with Trans Asia Railway Network.

Pointing out her government's 25-year master plan for development of the railway sector, she said a separate ministry has been established to implement the vision.

She said since 2009 her government approved 46 new projects involving Taka 27,398 crore and 39 revised projects of Taka 18,025 crore.

Terming rail and water ways as the most comfortable and least expensive mass transport for the poor and middle-income people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that taking the facts into consideration her government has rehabilitated many rail routes which have remained inoperative since Indo-Pakistan war in 1965.

After independence, Bangabandhu reconstructed the rail lines destroyed by Pakistani forces during the Liberation War, she said.

She said the BNP government after coming to power in 2001 closed many routes as part of its plan to shut down the railway sector gradually in the country according to the prescription of the ADB and WB. BNP-Jamaat could not bring any benefit but caused a lot of damage to the country, she added.

"We buy bogies for railway and BNP-Jamaat set those on fire," she said and added: "BNP has no sympathy for the country as the party didn't create the country."

Sheikh Hasina said the prime objective of her government is to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country. "We have to work sincerely to build a poverty-free nation. We want to make Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021," she said.

The Awami league government after assuming power in 1996 took the country towards the path of prosperity in only five years making the country self-sufficient in food production, increasing the literacy and growth rate, controlling inflation and creating a prospect for the nation as well.

But the prospect was shattered when the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power in 2001 and resorted to killing, intimidation and militant activities. As a result, people lost their confidence in government becoming frightened.

Sheikh Hasina said construction of double lines at Tongi-Bhairab Bazaar section would be completed by September this year. The Paira Seaport will be connected with the rail lines and all 64 districts would be connected with the railway link gradually, she said.

The Prime Minister said the Awami League government since 2009 has rehabilitated as many as 474 kilometre rail lines across the country while new coaches and locomotives were procured from Korea.

Sheikh Hasina said the sixth five-year plan has included many projects for development of the railway sector. Steps were taken to bring Faridpur, Bhanga, Gopalganj, Mongla Seaport, Cox's Bazaar, Mawa, Pabna and Dhlarchar under the railway network.

Photo: Yeasin Kabir Joy