Railway Minister Zillul Hakim has categorically said they will make the railway profitable through making it functional properly with spontaneous support of the public in general within the next couple of years.
"We have already adopted various need-based steps, including manpower recruitment and revitalization of the nonfunctional routes to attain the cherished goal," he added.
The railway minister was addressing a seminar styled "Mango transportation to different districts from Rajshahi division through railway" on Saturday as chief guest.
The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway will launch a special mango train on Rohanpur-Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi-Dhaka route from June 10 setting the target of transporting 12,18,850 tonnes of mango during the upcoming season.
Commissioner office of Rajshahi division organized the seminar at its conference hall supported by the Railway Ministry discussing and devising ways and means on how to make the mango transportation from the region through railway successful.
The meeting was told that the railway has transported 39,95,798 kilograms of mangoes earning revenues worth Taka 46,29,140 during the last four years since 2020.
Sharing their views, mango farmers, traders, entrepreneurs and exporters unequivocally called for solving the existing problems related to transportation of mangoes through railway to make the venture popular.
Railway Minister Zillul Hakim urged the mango traders, businessmen and exporters to transport their mangoes to different areas from the Rajshahi region through railway as its low-cost and safe.
"We are working relentlessly to make the railway eligible for mango transportation as per direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said, adding that full-length support of all stakeholders is needed to
this end.
With Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Humayun Kabir in the chair, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Prof Shafiqur Rahman Badsha, MP, Abul Kalam, MP, Railway Secretary Dr Humayun Kabir and Director General of Bangladesh Railway Sarder Shahadat Ali.
General Manager of West Zone of Bangladesh Railway Asim Kumar Talukder, Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Biplob Bijoy Talukder and Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police of Rajshahi Range Saiful Islam also spoke.
Referring to the existing problems in terms of transporting mangoes through railway, Minister Zillul Hakim assured that all the problems will be solved for making the railway mango transportation popular.
He also said they have taken steps for signing memorandum of understandings with some of the courier services related to the railway mango transportation.
