Roving Correspondent,  Ishwardi 

The process of removing the DG by the Ministry of Railways has begun on the alleged 'audit objection' in the Padma Bridge rail connection project.

The dissemination of false and baseless news on a non-existent online portal called Railnews24.com in the Railway Bhavan has created anger among the responsible officials and employees of various regions of Bangladesh Railways, including the Ministry of Railways.

 They have also termed the news disseminated on the online portal as propaganda and an anti-state conspiracy. This information has been made known based on the information provided by the responsible officers and employees of various regions of Bangladesh Railway including the Ministry of Railways, Pakshi Divisional Office of Bangladesh Railway, various offices of Western Railway in Rajshahi, various offices of Iswardi, and the protest letter given to the media by the central president of Bangladesh Railway Pet Society, Moniruzzaman Moni. According to the source, the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project is a unique milestone in the history of communication infrastructure development of Bangladesh. 

It is not just a railway line, it is an economic corridor, a development trend and the realization of the long-awaited expectations of the people of the southern region of the country. This project, implemented at a cost of about 1 lakh 33 thousand crore taka, is one of the largest and most complex engineering projects in the country. 

Its successful implementation has brought the countrymen to a new horizon of possibilities. But at the time when the project was at the peak of its success, some vested interests and a special section of the media have misused the media to create confusion in the public mind under the title "Tk 13,000 crore audit objection" regarding the cost of the project. This propaganda is purposeful, distorts information and is a dangerous example of questioning the development of the state. - It is said that the cost of implementing an international standard project is normal in a logical protest against engineering reality and audit objections. This project includes earthquake-resistant railway lines, hydrological and technical tests, river management, tunneling, construction of multiple stations, logistical support and complex technical additions.

Even in developed countries, additional costs are very normal in such projects, especially where the project is located in a landscape between rivers and plains. 2. Additional land (AGL) is essential to protect the project. Additional land (AGL) is part of the long-term maintenance and expansion plan of the project. Land is required for future railway line expansion, safety buffers, siding rails, signaling systems, substations, etc. Showing this land acquisition as "additional cost" is indicative of engineering ignorance.

Cost escalation in the Covid-19 situation is not a symbol of failure but a symbol of success. When the world was at a standstill in lockdown, the Bangladesh government continued this project by following health rules. Although the cost increased slightly, the country was saved from major losses in the future by not stopping work. Expenditure on safety equipment, worker accommodation, medical support, transportation, etc. has achieved the glory of success. Expenditure in the information management sector. 

 As part of modern project management, document management system (DMS), reporting software, cloud server, project monitoring software are all essential in an international standard project. Calling these costs unnecessary means creating ignorance or confusion. Provisioning costs are considered as part of internationally valid and policy-based costs. In large projects worldwide, a certain amount of money is allocated in the 'provisioning' sector to deal with uncertain costs. This is not corruption, but rather a part of a well-planned management.

 Failing to take advantage of the special benefits, some people have recently been trying to create an uncomfortable situation in the railway arena by spreading false propaganda and rumors through online news portals and social media. In a statement issued to the media by the Pet Society, it was said that thousands of pet families of Bangladesh Railway, who are carrying the legacy of this railway built with the blood and sweat of their ancestors, are united against this conspiracy. We cannot remain silent during the conspiracy to destroy the possibility that our children will enjoy the benefits of this development. The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project is not just a railway, it is a symbol of Bangladesh's capability, confidence and development. Spreading propaganda against this project means suppressing the country's growth, future prospects and the development aspirations of the people. 

In the context of the ongoing conspiracy, the statement expressed strong protest and condemnation on behalf of railway officials, engineers, workers and conscious citizens of the country. At the same time, a pledge was expressed to protect this important national development of the country's railway department by preventing all kinds of conspiracies to destroy the railway. Meanwhile, claiming that the image of the Railway Ministry has been tarnished by spreading false and fabricated news on the Rail News portal, a responsible source at the Railway Bhavan said that no decision has been taken to remove the DG from the Railway Ministry. The source also said that the news portal that participated in the propaganda does not exist. The Railway Bhavan does not even know who edited it.