Bangladesh Railway has incurred a loss of Taka about 4,500 crore during the last five years from 2008-2009 fiscal.
Minister for Railway Mujibul Haq said this in Parliament on Monday while responding to a question from Nurul Islam Milon from Comilla-8 constituency.
He said the railway sector incurred highest loss of Taka 1,110.52 crore in 2010-2011 while the lowest amount of Taka 657.94 crore in 2008-2009.
Replying to another question from Mahmud Us Samad, the railway minister said the railway incurred a loss of Taka 94 crore due to the BNP-Jamaat allaince’s programme last year.He told Parliament that at least nine persons including seven railway workers were killed and over injured in the sabotage activities. Of them, two Ansar-VDP members were killed.
He said the authorities so far filed 62 cases in this connections and arrested 246 people for their alleged involvement in sabotage activities.
Replying to a question from Nasim Osman, Mujibul Haq said the Dhaka- Narayanganj second railway line would be constructed very soon as a priority project of the present government.
“The government will construct the Dhaka-Narayanganj rail line with its own resources, if foreign fund is not available,” he added.
He told another questioner that the government has approved a 20-year master plan to make Bangladesh Railway a modern, time-befitting and comfortable mode of transport.
Meanwhile, replying to a supplementary question from ruling party lawmaker Ishrafil Alam, Communication Minister Obaidul Quader said Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department (R&H) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) incurred a loss of Taka about 69.53 crore due to arson attacks and different destructive activities of the BNP led 18-party alliance.
Of these, BRTC incurred the loss of Taka 58.28 crore while Roads and Highways Department Taka nearly 11.26 crore, he said.
Replying to another question from treasury bench member Nizam Uddin Hazari, the minister told the House that a project was undertaken in 2009 to complete works of 48 uncompleted bridges under the roads network of the Roads and Highways Department.
The Communications Minister told Parliament that 100 more double-decker and 50 articulated buses will be added to the existing fleet of BRTC soon.
Replying to a question from treasury bench member Md Rezaul Haq Chowdhury, the minister said these buses will be purchased under the Indian dollar credit line and the nagging traffic congestion in the capital is expected to be eased when the transports hit the city streets.
Ruling party MP AKM Jahnagir took floor on a point of order and tried to draw the attention of Parliament on spearing of adulterated and unapproved water factories but the Speaker suggested him to submit a petition in this regard.
Later, some lawmakers took part in the general discussion on thanks-giving motion on the address of President. Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah presided over the sitting of the day. – Staff Reporter
