Noakhali, May 26 (UNB) - Communications and Railways Minister Obaidul Quader has promised to remove corruption from Bangladesh Railway and improve its services.

“There'll be no corruption in the Railway ...its services will be improved and the grabbed land to be recovered soon,” he said while inaugurating the new locomotive and air-conditioned compartment of inter-city train 'Upakul Express' on Dhaka-Noakhali route at Noakhali Railway Station on Saturday.  

He said the 146 railway stations which were closed due to manpower shortage will be reopened after fresh recruitment.

Local people also demanded a pair of trains on Dhaka-Noakhali route to ease the movement of commuters.

Local MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, Railways secretary Fazle Kabir, DG Abu Taher were, among others, present.

A new schedule for Upakul Express has been introduced. As per the new schedule, the train will leave Noakhali at 6:30 am and reach Dhaka at 12:25 pm while the same train will leave Dhaka at 4 pm and reach Noakhali at 10:20 pm.

Obaidul was made the Communications Minister in December last year after Syed Abul Hossain's removal from the ministry in the wake of graft allegation against the latter.

Obaidul was temporarily given additional charges of the Railways Ministry after Suranjit Sengupta stepped down as Railways Minister amid the railwaygate scandal in April.