Bangladesh Railway plans to extend the Mahanagar Express, currently operating between Dhaka and Chittagong , to Cox’s Bazar to meet growing demand for rail travel.
If preparations are completed on schedule, the service could begin operating on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route in the first week of October, railway officials said.
Sujit Biswas, chief commercial manager of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, said the route had proved profitable, with existing trains frequently operating at full capacity.
Demand for tickets remains high, prompting authorities to increase train services from both Dhaka and Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar, he said.
Mahanagar Express currently leaves Kamalapur Railway Station at 9:20 p.m. for Chittagong and arrives at around 3:30 a.m. The train stops at 12 stations, including Dhaka Airport, Narsingdi, Bhairab Bazar, Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria, Akhaura, Kasba, Cumilla, Laksham, Nangalkot, Feni and Kumira.
Under the proposed extension, train numbers 721 and 722 would leave Kamalapur at around 8:30 p.m. and reach Cox’s Bazar at about 6 a.m. The return service would depart Cox’s Bazar at 9 a.m. and arrive in Dhaka around 6:30 p.m.
The extension would provide passengers from Dhaka, Chittagong and several intermediate stations with a direct rail link to Cox’s Bazar.
The move is part of Bangladesh Railway’s broader plan to expand services on the Dhaka–Chittagong –Cox’s Bazar corridor. Four pairs of trains currently operate to Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka and Chittagong, with plans to increase the number to five pairs.
Commercial train services on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route began on Dec. 1, 2023.
Shafikur Rahman, chief operating superintendent of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, said preparations were underway and the new service could begin next month.