Nazrul Islam to join Mamata in Railways

“He is joining as Executive Director,Safety,Railway Board,very soon,” said a source in the Railway ministry.

The Indian Express has already reported how after being sworn in as the railway minister,Banerjee had sent the proposal to Islam. Put on compulsory waiting — a euphemism for punishment in state government circles — Islam had told Mamata that he needed time to consider it. He said he could not make up his mind because of his social works he pursues.

The officer — novelist,essayist and a recipient of the prestigious Ananda Purashkar — runs an NGO,the Basantapur Education Society. The organisation has an engineering college at Domkol in Murshidabad,the area Islam hails from. He often visits the college to supervise its activities. But the officer seems to have made up his mind this time.

“I have requested the authorities to release me from the state cadre and place me with the central cadre,” Islam said. “I know there could be some problems initially at my college but I will put efficient people there. Regarding Mamata Banerjee’s offer,you will have to talk to her.”

Islam’s joining the railway ministry marks a turning point in his career,throughout which he had been vocal against the state government: focussing on the highhandedness of CPM leaders and their malpractices during elections.

His book “Police Prasange”,criticising his own department,has drawn censure from the state government. Hounded from one department to another,the officer was finally shifted to the innocuous post of ADG,Traffic.

State Trinamool Congress leaders are happy about the development. “During Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s regime,the arms and legs of officers who are honest and unbiased have been fettered,” said Partha Chatterjee,Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly and a senior Trinamool Congress leader.

“The state government did not let them work. And now Islam has got an opportunity,he is moving out,” Chatterjee added.