The Ministry of Railways has formed a high-powered investigation committee to review the draft specifications for purchasing 30 metre-gauge locomotives for Bangladesh Railway.
The committee will be led by Dr Sheikh Moinuddin, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry and the Ministry of Railways, with the rank of state minister. Bangladesh Railway Additional Director General (Rolling Stock) will serve as member secretary.
Other members include the Director General of Bangladesh Railway, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), and a professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The committee will also have the authority to co-opt members if required.
The procurement is part of the ongoing project to convert the Chattogram–Dohazari metre-gauge railway line into a dual-gauge track. Bangladesh Railway has already prepared a draft specification for the locomotives, but the Railways Ministry said various negative discussions on the matter have emerged on social media.
In response, the committee has been tasked with ensuring a transparent and competitive tender process by thoroughly reviewing the draft specifications. It will assess locomotive and spare parts performance, modern technology, fuel efficiency, spare parts availability, international acceptability, and suitability for Bangladesh’s operating environment.
The committee has been instructed to submit a comprehensive report to the ministry within 15 working days.