Railway minister should resign temporarily: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the suspension of a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for fining three people claiming to be railway minister Nurul Islam’s relatives for travelling without tickets.

TIB in a press release on Saturday said, “As such a situation has arisen involving the railway minister and as the ticketless passengers used his identity, he should resign from his position temporarily for the sake of a fair and impartial investigation into the incident.”

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, “The incident is a shameless and vile example of abuse of power and power has been misused in two ways in this incident. Firstly, the ticketless passengers claimed to be the relatives of the railway minister assuming that the existing law of the railways does not apply to them! Secondly, The TTE was immediately suspended over a phone call without being given any chance to defend himself.”

The concerned ticket inspector had fulfilled his duty but dismissing him when he should have been rewarded sent the wrong message to the people that the seizure of power and irregularities are the reality, he said.

“Moreover, this example will still be considered a strong negative message for the very few who are faithfully and honestly performing their duties in their respective fields,” said Iftekharuzzaman.