After a long wait, a trial train will run across the newly constructed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge over the Jamuna River on Tuesday.
However, it will take another two months for trains to operate at full speed on the country's largest railway bridge.
The project director, Al Fattah Masudur Rahman, confirmed the matter on Monday.
He said: "On Tuesday, the trial train will depart from the eastern Bhuapur Upazila and cross to the western side in Sirajganj. The construction of the bridge has been fully completed, and it will be formally inaugurated in December. For now, the trial run will take place on Tuesday around noon."
According to project sources, construction of the bridge began in August 2020 at an initial cost of Tk9,734.7 crore.
However, the cost later increased to Tk16,780.96 crore, of which Tk12,149.2 crore was provided as a loan by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
The project was originally planned to run from July 2016 to December 2023.
However, the first revision extended the deadline to December 2024.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project on December 6, 2016.