After a long ban on new recruitment, the government has taken a decision to appoint 1,010 new personnel in the workshop. Its modernisation is also imminent.

The decision was taken following a visit to the country's largest century-old railway workshop by Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda in April this year. During his tour he inaugurated sophisticated super saloon railway coaches here. He was amazed to see the skills of engineers and workers of the workshop. At once he declared that the government would take a programme to modernise the workshop. He further declared appointment of a foreign surveyor for a feasibility study.

New recruitment in the workshop was stopped in 1983 by the then government. Since then no government tried to change the situation although fake commitments were made time and again by running candidates during parliamentary elections.

However, the workshop authorities abolished the vacant posts created from retirements. In the process the workshop having a manpower of 10,000 officers and employees gradually reduced to 2,500 personnel. Various workers' unions and conscious section in Nilphamari and Syedpur alleged that it was a ploy to shift the workshop elsewhere or transfer it to private sector. The situation raised great concern among skilled railway workers and citizens alike.

The decision to appoint new manpower in the workshop has created a great enthusiasm among local people.