Diploma engineers key force in railways: Railways minister

Diploma engineers are a vital force in the railways, said Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan.

"About 80% of railway engineers are diploma engineers. They are proudly contributing to all sectors of the country, not just the railways. The prime minister has called you [diploma engineers] public engineers, which is a great achievement for you," he said.

He said this while inaugurating a number of year-long programmes and speaking at a discussion at the Multipurpose Hall of IDEB Bhaban on the occasion of Public Engineering Day 2020 and the golden jubilee of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB).

Thanking IDEB for its patriotic activities, the minister said, "You [IDEB] are moving towards prosperity by making the maximum use of limited resources."

"We are trying to bring order to rail services and railways. At present, about 25,000 people are working in the railways department and there is a workforce shortage of another 25,000 people. This required manpower will be recruited in a very short time," he added.

Bangabandhu was not able to realise his dream of a Golden Bangla but his daughter is leading towards that dream and public engineers are playing a role from the front, Sujan also said.

IDEB President AKMA Hamid presided over the inaugural function held on the theme "The Blue Economy will Bring Prosperity."

Deputy Minister for Education Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel attended as a special guest and Dhaka South City Corporation's Ward-20 Councillor Farid Uddin Ahmad Ratan as a distinguished guest.

Deputy Minister Nowfel said the prime minister has designed a 100-year Delta Plan in which public engineers will play a special role.

"Bangabandhu enacted a law on seaports in 1974 while the United Nations worked on the sea law in 1986. So, we have a long-term plan for the sea."

He further said, "We have not yet attained the educational knowledge of the father of the nation. Universities are teaching in the traditional way. Public engineers have a role to play in bringing about change in these educational activities."

Established on 8 November 1970, IDEB has set up: the IDEB Education and Training Institute, the Research and Technological Institute, the Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute, the Bangladesh-India Dairy and Food Processing Institute, and Noapara IDEB Model High School in Jashore.

The year-long programmes on the occasion of IDEB's golden jubilee include 100 seminars across the country, the distribution of leaflets on tree planting, the planting of 50,000 flowers, forests and medicinal plants across the country, the construction and handing over of at least 50 houses for the homeless, and the distribution of 50,000 masks among the people.

Leaders of IDEB, teachers and students of diploma engineering, diploma engineers, and others were present on the occasion.