Bangladesh Railway in brief

Bangladesh Railway, a principle transportation agency of the country, is a Government owned and Government –managed organization. It covers a length of 2,877.10  route kilometers employing a total of 25,083 regular employees. As railway is a very important mode of inland transport, linking the entire length and breadth of the country, it’s healthy grow naturally contributes to the economic development of the country.

Till June 2, 1982, the management and development of railway was vested with a Railway Board, comprising of a Chairman and four members. But, for administrative convenience and operational reason the Railway Board was abolished with effect from June 3, 1982 and the function of the Railway Board was vested with the Railway Division of the Ministry of Communications with the Secretary of the Division working as the Director General of Bangladesh Railway. For the same purpose the Railway bifurcated into two zones, East & West, under the administrative control of two general managers, who are accountable to the Director General of Bangladesh Railway. Subsequently on August 12, 1995 the day to day operation of the Railway was separated from the Ministry and entrusted with director general drawn from the Railway professionals. For policy guidance, a 9(nine) member Bangladesh Railway

authority (BRA) was formed with the Minster Ministory of Communications as its Chairman. The Director General is assisted by Additional Director General and Joint Director General to perform all administrative and policy making jobs.

The General Managers of the two zones are assisted by various specialized departments who are responsible for operation, maintenance and financial

management. Each zone is again divided in two divisions, which are the basic unit of operation. The division is headed by a Divisional Railway Manager, who is assisted by Divisional Officers of various specialized Departments such as Personnel,Transportation, Commercial,Finance Mechanical, Way and Works Signaling & Telecommunication, Electrical, Medical, Nirapatta Bahini etc. Besides there are two workshop Divisions, one in each zone, located at Pahartoli and Syedpur, each being headed by a Divisional Superintendent .Further there is a locomotive workshop headed by Chief Executive at Parbatipur for general overhauling of both BG&MG locomotives.

Bangladesh Railway also has Railway Training Academy headed by a Rector , a planning cell headed by a Chief Planning Officer, stores Department headed by a Chief Controller of Stores And Accounts Department headed by an Additional Director General/Finance for coordinating and advising Accounting and financial management activities of the two zones.

To ensure safety of Railway transportation Government has set up a separate Directorate Under Ministry of Communications to inspect different works of BR relates with the train operation.