JKS demands resignation of rail minister

Staff Correspondent: Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded the resignation of the Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan over the suspension of Travel Ticket Examiner (TTE) of Sundarban Express Shafiqul Islam.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, general secretary of the passenger welfare body, voiced the demand in a press statement yesterday.
The association said the reckless interference and illegal orders from some ministers’ wives in ministries and departments must stop.
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan must step down on account of his wife’s unethical involvement in ministry affairs, it added.
“While our prime minister is constantly working to stop corruption in the country, irregularities have skyrocketed in various ministries due to following orders from ministers’ wives. As a result, many departments are now being held hostage by bureaucrats,” said the statement.
Mozammel later questioned how the Railways Ministry, which operates at a snail’s pace, could suspend TTE Safiqul Islam on such short notice.
“How could the Railways Ministry, which stores its files for years before opening, suspend TTE Safiqul at 10am, immediately after office started? Who filed the suspension letter and who reviewed it? People deserve to know,” he said.
He added that such incidents had increased the costs of development projects in the communication sector, and that people’s money was being looted.

The suspension of TTE Shafiqul Islam was withdrawn yesterday, amid widespread criticism.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan confirmed the matter at a media call.

He said his wife had been involved in the incident, and that he had nothing to do with the matter.

Nurul Islam Sujan also added that TTE Shafiqul had actually done his job properly. “It is the TTE’s job to bring discipline to the rail system,” he added.

Shafiqul Islam on May 4 fined three passengers, who had introduced themselves as relatives of Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, for travelling without tickets.

Pakshi Divisional Commercial Officer Nasir Uddin ordered Shafiqul’s suspension the next day.The incident triggered a social media furore.