Bangladesh Railway on Sunday signed an agreement with India's Hindustan Engineering & Industries Ltd worth Tk231.19 crore to procure 420 broad gauge wagons.
This project is being implemented under the joint funding of the Bangladesh government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The contract was signed by the project director Md. Mizanur Rahman, on behalf of Bangladesh, and vice-president of the Indian contractor Pradeep Guha at Rail Bhaban.
The wagons are equipped with stainless steel bodies, high-speed bogies and automatic air brake systems so that general and specialized products like various food grains, fertilizers, stones, wood etc. can be delivered to the destination safely at a low cost and in lesser time.
At the signing ceremony, Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said: "We have inherited the railway system from undivided India. And the development of the country is not possible without developing railways."
The existing railways are being reshaped as a balanced communication system for sustainable development as per the goal of the present government, said the minister.
He said: "The prime minister is working towards building a self-reliant, dignified country as per Bangabandhu's dream. She has made Bangladesh Railways a separate ministry from keeping the needs of the people in mind."
The minister further said many projects have been taken to increase rail connectivity across the country. Rail communication is being established with various rivers and seaports of the country.
All single lines in the country will be upgraded to double lines, he said.
Various initiatives have been taken to increase regional and domestic rail connectivity by increasing rail connectivity with neighboring countries.
The factories are being modernized. The minister noted that multifaceted initiatives have been taken to restore the lost glory of the railways.
Secretary of the Railways Ministry Dr Md Humayun Kabir, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Dhirendranath Majumder and other senior officials were present at the signing ceremony.
