Though there is a separate rail ministry and budget of rail has increased, Bangladesh Railway has failed to provide sufficient service to the passengers. In 2012, by showing the cause of increased operational expenditure, Bangladesh Railway increased fare and committed to improve passenger services. But this did not happen on reality. Plans are being taken to increase fare but there is no proper plan to improve service.  Profit from rail depends not only on the fare but also on number of coaches, occupancy and train turn around. So these points should be considered for profit and functioning rail autogenously. On 25^th January 2016, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and Save the Environment Movement (POBA) jointly organized a press conference on ‘Rail Fare: Relevant Reflection’ at POBA office.   

Speakers said that, as rail is not being operated properly, it is failing to provide proper passenger service. Repairing rail line, building new lines and infrastructure could not improve the time table of rail. In 2015, in Eastern zone the percentage of locomotive usage was 68.20% and in Western Zone meter gauge was used 80% and broad gauge was used 74.06%. In 1973 and 1975, though there were more stations and man power, train operation cost was 94 to 95 taka and earning was 100 taka. At present numbers of stations and manpower has lessen but the cost has increased 200.2%. So increasing rail fare is not any solution. Proper utilization, management and coordination of wealth, may bring some result.  Seasonally numbers of coaches can be increased for profit. Ticket management should be proper, so that passengers do not face any problem.

Speakers also said that, proper management of railway wealth, focusing on freight transport, modernize the railway workshops and gaining self sufficiency to build locomotive and coach- these initiatives can make rail a well developed sector.

The program was presided over Abu Naser Khan, Chairman, POBA. Speakers of the program were Gaous Pearee, Director, WBB Trust; Atiq Morshed, Program Coordinator, POBA and many others were present in the press conference.