Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the much-awaited 102-kilometre Chittagong-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge single railway line setting yet another milestone in the country's communication network.
The southern region wore a festive look as she unveiled the new rail route (from Dohazari in Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar) for train movement at a ceremony at newly constructed Cox’s Bazar railway station.
The premier flagged off a train and then travelled by it from Cox’s Bazar railway station to Ramu railway station.
Addressing the inauguration program, the prime minister said Bangladesh has changed in last 15 years.
Sheikh Hasina, the three-time consecutive Prime Minister of Bangladesh, highlighted various development projects implemented during her tenure, including the establishment of the first rail communication in Cox's Bazar.
Regarding the rail service, the prime minister said: "In the last 15 years, we have laid 873 kilometres of new rail track, and the 280-meter gauge track has been upgraded to broad gauge."
She added: "A total of 1,391 kilometres of rail track has been reconstructed, 146 new rail station buildings have been constructed, 1,037 new rail bridges have been built, and 143 new train services have been initiated during this period."
Addressing foreign experts' suggestions, Sheikh Hasina emphasized: "This is our country, and we know how to develop it. The government is planning to introduce Wi-Fi internet connection on trains, and there are intentions to establish rail connectivity between Cox's Bazar and major parts of the country.”
The prime minister expressed the government's aspirations to connect Bangladesh with the trans-Asian railway network through the newly developed rail track.
On her arrival at the venue, the prime minister was received by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan along with local MPs welcomed her while local artists with traditional songs and dance performed dances and songs.
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan presided over the program where Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Ginting and Railways Ministry secretary Dr Md Humayun Kabir also spoke at the program.
A documentary on the rail line project was screened at the program.
The new rail line will ensure fast and smooth train services from Chittagong to the tourist town Cox's Bazar.
In the future, the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar railway line will be connected with the under-construction Matarbari deep sea port.
The first-ever railway to connect Chittagong with Cox's Bazar has nine stations at Satkania, Lohagara, Chokoria, Dulahazra, Eidgao, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ukhiya, and Gumdum.
These stations have fully computer-based interlocking signal systems and a fully digitalised telecommunications network.
On April 3 in 2011, Prime Minister Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway, a priority project of her government.
The fast-track mega railway project was implemented at a cost of Tk1,8034.47 crore and financed by Asian Development Bank and Bangladesh government.
The commercial operations on the new railway line will start next month.
As part of Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network this is also expected to improve access to Myanmar and beyond.
It will pass through eight upazilas including the Chandanaish, Satkania and Lohagara in Chittagong district and the Chakaria, Cox's Bazar Sadar, Ramu and Ukhia upazilas in Cox's Bazar district.
The line will begin at Dohazari village and continue southwards to Cox's Bazar. The first 29km segment will run across flat, open land in Chittagong district, while the next 33km will travel through agricultural land and forests in the Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar district.
During the project's second phase, the rail line will be extended to the Myanmar border as well as the under-construction deep-sea port on Matarbari Island. The extended part will have two stations - Ukhiya and Ghumdhum.
It will have nine computer-based interlock signal systems, nine digital telecommunication systems.
Bridges have been constructed over Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers. Apart from this, there are 43 small bridges, 201 culverts, a flyover in Keuchia area of Satkania, 144 level crossings and two highway crossings in Ramu and Cox's Bazar areas.
