The Bangladesh Railway has witnessed massive expansion and development in its infrastructure and service system countrywide during the three consecutive periods, 2009 to 2023, of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
Apart from the Dhaka Metro Rail Link project, during the period, over 873 kilometres of railway lines have been added and 44 more new routes installed across the country. The new routes include Dhaka to Khulna through the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Khulna to Mongla, Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar and Akhaura to Agartola in Tripura of India.
The 102 km long Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar railway line is scheduled to be opened on November 12.
Besides, 1,391.31 km railway lines have been reconstructed while 794 old railway bridges have been renovated, 146 new railway buildings have been constructed and 237 old buildings of the railway department have been renovated.
As part of the expansion of railway’s capacities in services, at least 143 more new trains have been added for the passengers’ services. In this regard, 109 more new locomotives and 658 new passenger coaches have been collected while 530 passenger coaches and 516 goods carrying wagons have been renovated.
In view of upgrading the railway tracks, 340.17 kms of Metre Gauge (MG) railway lines have been converted to Dual Gauge (DG).
The signaling system of 134 railway stations has been updated with modernized methods while the system has been renovated for nine more stations.
As part of modernization to the railway service, the government has introduced the e-ticketing system through which anybody now can purchase tickets online, staying at home or at anywhere anytime by averting any hassle. They also can collect any information about the train services, including schedules, ticket prices and others.
The railway is considered to be the safest way of traveling at the cheaper cost. Besides, the infrastructure of the railway is also the most sustainable one.
With the opening of Dhaka-Khulna rail route through Padma Bridge, a new era in the communication system has been opened. Introduction of the metro rail service has astonished the commuters in Dhaka and also the people of Bangladesh.
If the Chatogram to Cox’s Bazar Railway Line is opened, the capital city Dhaka will be connected directly with the train service. It will help boost the country’s tourism and commerce rapidly.
According to official sources, with the expansion of the railway sector, the length of railway lines of the railway across the country is over 37,000 kms.
At present around one lakh people travel by train everyday across the country and the number of passengers is increasing rapidly.
They said, railways of the country have the potential to connect the Trans-Asian Railway. Starting from Frankfurt in Germany, this trans-Asian rail route will bring 32 countries of the world, including Bangladesh, under the same network.
Railway minister Nurul Islam Sujon earlier said that with the expansion of the railway, a new horizon has been opened in trade and commerce.
The minister said that the government is planning to introduce railway routes in all the districts across the country.
Earlier on June 14, the railway minister told the Jatiya Sangsad that the government has already completed the feasibility studies for the constructions of the railway in eight districts like Satkhira, Barishal, Rangamati, Jhalokhati, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur and Meherpur. Besides, the feasibility study for constructing the railway network in Manikganj is now under process.
Railway line will be constructed in four districts like Bandarban, Lakhipur, Sherpur and Khagrachari after materializing the 30 years long (2016-2045) Bangladesh Railway Master Plan, he told the parliament.
History says, the railway in Bangladesh territory was introduced in 1862 during British rule. When Bangladesh emerged as an Independent nation in 1971, it had 2858.73kms of railway lines and 466 stations.
But before the Awami League government came to power, this sector had remained neglected by all other governments. After the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government came to power in 2009, it decided to develop the railway communication system, and in this regard, the government formed the Ministry of Railway in December of 2011. The government started expanding the railway lines and routes alongside adding new trains, coaches and locomotives.
In 2009, the Bangladesh Railway projected a 30-year long master plan (2016 to 2045) at a cost of Tk 5.5 lakh crore.
