Bangladesh Railway (BR) is yet to upgrade its century-old law that would help ensure orderly operation of trains for 'not getting competent consultants'.
Sources said the BR has invited expression of interest (EoI) thrice, but it is yet to get any qualified firm for carrying out the work.
The Ministry of Railway took a move to amend Railway Act 1890 as per annual performance agreement for the just-concluded fiscal year.
"Though it is mainly the job of a law firm, we could not get qualified firm for doing the work due to some reasons," said an official.
He said BR could not get any response even after calling the first EoI in December last, but it found two firms non-responsive in the second EoI called in February.
The third EoI was opened at the end of April last. The evaluation of the responses was still going on.
Sources, however, said one of the three firms which responded to the third call failed to meet basic requirements.
Though the evaluation of the companies was still on, sources said, the BR was not optimistic about getting any qualified firm as the local firms were not much aware of the railway system and its operation.
"The task to amend the railway act is not much. But the firm must know about the complex system of the railway and its operation apart from familiarity with terminology to update the law," said the official when asked about what kind of qualifications of the firm was sought.
The BR has taken the move to amend the Railway Act, nearly 125 years after its enactment in 1890, as the authorities now finds it difficult to enforce many rules and ensure fines or punishment while running trains on nearly 2900-kilometre routes.
According to BR, Railway Act 1890 was formulated aiming to provide train services smoothly.
The act was modified by the Indian government in 1935. Pakistan inherited its authority from the Indian Independence Act 1947 and Bangladesh after its independence in 1971.
India has replaced the act with Indian Railway Act 1989.
The BR has so far followed the old act except for train fares.
The BR officials said in some cases, fine of 50 paisa is still recommended as punishment in the act.
The BR, by this time, has upgraded its system and operation as well as plan to bring changes in the future.
These include developing dual gauge lines, metre gauge and broad gauge lines, electric train services etc. BR is now governed by east and west-based administrative divisions.
smunima@yahoo.com