Bangladesh Railway on Sunday observed the Rail Day for the first time with an aim to improve its services.

Addressing a discussion marking the day, railway minister Nurul Islam Sujan said that development in any sector was impossible without knowing its history and tradition.

Railway organised the discussion at Rail Bhaban in the capital to mark the day, said a press release issued by the ministry.

On November 15 in 1862, a 53-kilometre broad gauge rail line was inaugurated between Dorshona in Chuadanga and Jogoti in Kushtia as the first rail communication in this region.

At the discussion, Nurul Islam said that railway was a historically renowned institution which played important role in social evolution and economic progress.

The minister described the damages caused to the railway sector during the War of Independence.

Currently many plans have been taken for the development of the sector, he said expressing hope that these would retrieve the lost image of railway.

The programme was attended, among others, by the ministry secretary Md Selim Reza and Bangladesh Railway director general Md Shamsuzzaman.