Dhaka, May 7: Director General of Bangladesh Railway, Afzal Hossain, has called on onboard service providers to play a more responsible role in ensuring quality passenger services on running trains, emphasizing that their duties should not remain limited to contractual obligations alone.
He made the remarks while chairing a meeting held at Conference Room-211 (Padma) of Rail Bhaban in the capital on Thursday at 10:30 am. The meeting focused on improving passenger services, maintaining discipline in train operations, and modernizing onboard and catering services to make them more passenger-friendly.Railways Ministry Secretary Fahimul Islam attended the meeting as the chief guest. Among others present were Additional Secretary (Administration) Md. Rupom Anwar, Additional Director General (Operation) Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Joint Director General (Operation) Shahidul Islam, General Manager of Eastern Zone Md. Suboktagin, CCM Mahbubur Rahman, Western Zone CCM Sujit Kumar Biswas, senior officials of the operation department, and commercial officers from four divisions.Representatives and owners of various companies involved in onboard and catering services for Bangladesh Railway also took part in the meeting. Discussions covered food quality, cleanliness, accountability in service delivery, passenger safety, and overall management of onboard services.
In his speech, DG Afzal Hossain stressed the importance of ensuring high standards in passenger service, food quality, hygiene, and customer satisfaction.
Chief guest Fahimul Islam said all stakeholders must work together with sincerity to improve railway passenger services. He noted that the government is working to modernize railway services and make them more public-friendly in line with the directives of the Prime Minister.The overall activities of Bangladesh Railway are being directly monitored by the Honorable Prime Minister. Any negligence, irregularity, or failure in passenger service will lead to departmental action against those responsible,” he warned.
Representatives of private service providers also expressed their commitment to improving passenger services.
Abdur Razzaq, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Railway Onboard and Catering Service Providers Association and owner of Suruchi Fastfood, said they would work collectively to implement the ministry’s directives.
Matiur Rahman Samrat, representative of S.A Corporation, highlighted the need for stronger coordinated taskforce activities involving GRP and Railway Security Force personnel to ensure passenger safety.
Mamun Hossain, owner of Habib Banijya Bitan, said they have continued providing services despite delayed bill payments and are trying their best to maintain service quality.
Matin, representative of Balaka International, also reaffirmed their commitment to improving passenger services.
At the end of the meeting, all stakeholders expressed their determination to work together to ensure safer, improved, and higher-quality railway passenger services across the country.
