Dhaka, March 1 -- The long-standing manpower shortage that Bangladesh Railway (BR) is suffering from is unlikely to be resolved soon due to procedural complexities and a lack of visionary steps.

The recruitments of around 40,000 employees were approved more than three years ago. Yet, 70 per cent of the posts at the state-owned train operator remain vacant.

It now functions with nearly 24,000 employees, who plan, implement, operate, and maintain over 4,500 kilometres of tracks and 500 stations.

The Enam Committee prepared an organogram for BR in 1982 and recommended 82,892 employees for smooth operations.

The organisation let around 10,000 experienced employees go with a golden handshake in the early 1990s. The recruitment drives made ...