The new rail connectivity between Dhaka and Bhanga in Faridpur, set to be inaugurated on Tuesday, comes a year after the launch of the massive Padma Bridge and is being hailed as a boon by the locals.
Thousands of people are gathered with excitement to welcome the prime minister from the morning, who officially opened this new rail route.
They have gathered alongside the rail tracks, while some are peering through windows, eagerly awaiting the commencement of this grand ceremony.
Speaking with Dhaka Tribune, a dozen local individuals, predominantly elderly, expressed their overwhelming joy following the completion of the Padma Bridge and the construction of rail tracks upon it.
Abdur Razzak Mollah, a resident of the Joseldia area in Lauhojang upazila in Munshiganj, conveyed his profound appreciation for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League government.
He said: "The inauguration of the Padma Bridge last year and the unveiling of the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga rail route this year are blessings for us. We can now reach Dhaka in just 40 minutes, whereas it used to take us three to four hours before. We hope for the return of the Awami League government."
Local resident Arif Mia shared that they never could have imagined the Padma Bridge and the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga rail line in Munshiganj, and now their dreams have become a reality.
Rahima Khatun and her daughter Rima have come to witness the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga railway line. Sharing her feelings, 15-year-old Rima said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for our generation. We can now travel anywhere, anytime, which will not only save us time but also provide us with improved access to education and healthcare."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge on June 25 last year.
On Tuesday, she launched the train services between Dhaka and Bhanga, marking the successful completion of the first phase of the Dhaka-Jessore rail route.
The remaining portion of the project linking Jessore is expected to be launched in June of next year, according to project officials.
A trial run of a train was conducted for the first time through the 6.1km mega-structure on September 7.
Bangladesh Railway is overseeing the project in collaboration with China Railway Engineering (CREC), a Chinese construction company, and the army Engineering Core.
Over the past decade, land prices along the Dhaka-Mawa Highway and in Keraniganj have soared due to the construction of the Padma Bridge.
Numerous industries and housing complexes have sprung up in the area in recent years, leading to an increase in economic activities, thanks to the improved road communication that has significantly reduced the distance between the southern and southeastern districts and Dhaka.