The government is moving ahead with Bangladesh’s first electric railway project, which will introduce electric trains and increase services along the 50-kilometre Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur commuter route.
A Railway Ministry official said the project has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval and the work will begin once it receives the necessary clearance.
The Tk3,822.51 crore project will electrify the existing railway corridor and introduce electric multiple unit (EMU) trains.
This change will allow for more train services and let the trains carry more passengers.
The European Union in Bangladesh shared on Facebook on Saturday that the project will electrify the 50-kilometre Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur commuter corridor.
Daily passengers are expected to grow from 232,000 to over 845,000, and daily train services will increase from 65 to 235.
The post also noted that this is Bangladesh’s first railway electrification project, supported by the EU, the European Investment Bank, and the Asian Development Bank under the Global Gateway initiative.
This decision follows talks with the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh Railway, development partners, academics, and other groups.
The project is funded by the government and loans, with extra support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). It aims to modernize one of Dhaka’s busiest commuter corridors.
According to the project brief, daily passenger capacity on the corridor should go up from about 232,000 to over 845,000 journeys. Daily train services are also expected to rise from 65 to 235.
During peak hours, trains are expected to run every 15 minutes. This will give commuters a more frequent alternative to crowded roads.
The Bangladesh Railway project document says train services will gradually expand over time.
The plan is for 66 trains to carry 211,200 passengers each day in 2030.
By 2038, there will be 100 trains for 320,000 passengers. In 2046, 152 trains will serve 486,400 passengers, and by 2053, 252 trains will carry 806,400 passengers each day.
The project will install an overhead catenary system and a control centre along the 50km route, covering about 186 track-kilometres.
It will also include designing and building an EMU factory and buying 16 EMU trainsets, each with five coaches.
The project is expected to cost Tk3,822.51 crore. Of this, Tk942.09 crore will come from the government and Tk2,880.42 crore from loans.
The project document says the ADB and EIB have already given early approval for co-financing.
The project is scheduled to run from July 2026 to June 2031.
Electrifying the railway is also expected to reduce Bangladesh Railway’s operating and maintenance costs.
The project document estimates that train operating costs will be about 35% lower, and repair and maintenance costs will fall by 40% on this section.
Electric trains are expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 5,000 tonnes each year. Running more train services should also help increase railway revenue.
However, this project marks a major change for Bangladesh Railway, which has mostly used diesel-powered trains until now.
The railway has been exploring electric trains for several years to modernize its network and reduce costs.
The Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur corridor is important because it links key residential, commercial, and industrial areas around the capital and serves many daily commuters.
“For Bangladesh Railway, this project is more than just an energy change. It is an effort to build a commuter railway around Dhaka that can carry more people, run more often, and cost less to operate,” said a Rail ministry official who did not want to be named.
The plan to bring electric trains to Bangladesh Railway’s network has been underway for years.
During the ousted Awami League government regime, in July 2023, Bangladesh Railway hired a Turkish consulting firm to carry out a feasibility study and prepare a detailed design for electric traction on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram and Tongi-Joydebpur sections, covering 348.16km.
The study later suggested the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section as the first phase of the electrification program.
Then, railway adviser to the interim government Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan referred to the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur electric traction project in Parliament in April 2026, as he outlined steps being taken to modernize and expand Bangladesh Railway.
By then, the DPP had already been prepared and was going through the government approval process.