The government plans to extend electric train services to Chittagong after launching a pilot project on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur corridor as part of efforts to modernise the country's railway network.
The expansion would bring electric trains to the busy Dhaka-Chittagong route, improving passenger services, speeding up freight transportation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Bangladesh Railway Chief Planning Officer Engineer Md Rafiqul Islam said the government plans to introduce electric multiple-unit (EMU) trains capable of running at speeds of up to 140kph.
The pilot project has received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), with an estimated cost of Tk3,500 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to provide most of the financing, while the government will cover domestic costs, including duties and VAT.
The tendering process is expected to be completed by 2027, with major construction work scheduled to progress from mid-2028.
A total of 16 EMU train sets will be imported for the pilot corridor. The trains will have driving facilities at both ends, allowing them to operate without being turned around.
Rafiqul Islam said the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor was a priority because of its importance for passenger and freight movement, connecting the capital with the country's main seaport and commercial centres.
Currently, only 60,000-70,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers are transported annually by rail from Chittagong to Dhaka, accounting for around 3% of total container traffic.
The Dhirashram Inland Container Depot project aims to increase annual rail container transportation to 450,000 TEUs, creating scope for greater freight movement by rail.
To support railway electrification, Bangladesh Railway is also developing infrastructure along key routes. Construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Dhaka and Tongi is progressing, while double-line construction on the Tongi-Joydebpur section has been completed.
Additional land is being acquired at Joydebpur for an EMU depot and workshop. Meanwhile, metre-gauge lines on the Tongi-Akhaura and Laksam-Chittagong routes are being converted into dual-gauge double lines.
Rafiqul Islam said Bangladesh Railway was prioritising electric trains capable of running at 140kph rather than bullet trains, which can reach speeds of around 350kph.
Introducing bullet trains would require an estimated Tk150,000-250,000 crore, alongside major land acquisition and other challenges in the country's densely populated landscape, he said.
Electric trains are also expected to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and fuel consumption. Bangladesh Railway is assessing the potential environmental benefits and opportunities to earn carbon credits through internationally recognised mechanisms.
The pilot corridor is expected to lay the groundwork for a wider electric railway network, with Chattogram identified as the next major expansion destination.
