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PM Sheikh Hasina Inaugurates Dhaka-Bhanga Rail Section via Padma Bridge
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Dhaka-Bhanga section of the rail link between Dhaka and Jashore via the Padma Bridge, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s transportation infrastructure development. The inauguration took place at the Mawa Railway Station in Munshiganj, with the presence of Sheikh Hasina’s younger sister, Sheikh Rehana.
In her address, Prime Minister Hasina emphasized the importance of realizing the dream of crossing the Padma River by train. She also highlighted the government’s ambition to connect the Bangladesh railway with the Trans Asian Railway network, a goal they are actively working towards.
Commercial train services on this newly inaugurated rail route are expected to commence shortly, promising to reduce travel time between Dhaka and Jashore by half and greatly enhancing the country’s railway connectivity.
This rail link is set to have a significant impact on Bangladesh’s economy, as it will gradually bring 64 districts of the country under the railway network. The trial run of a special train on the Dhaka-Bhanga route through the Padma Bridge was successfully completed on September 7.
The civic rally at Mawa Railway Station was attended by prominent figures, including Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.
After the event, Prime Minister Hasina is scheduled to take a ride on the special train to Bhanga in Faridpur via the Padma Bridge. She will also attend a grand rally at Dr Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium in Bhanga, organized by the Faridpur district unit of the ruling Awami League.
Prime Minister Hasina will then proceed to her ancestral home in Tungipara, Gopalganj, where she will pay her respects to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
This significant railway project spans 172km from Dhaka to Jashore and is part of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project. The Dhaka-Bhanga section is being opened, while the remaining portion connecting Jashore is expected to be launched in June next year.
The inauguration of the Dhaka-Bhanga rail service via the Padma Bridge marks a major transportation achievement for Bangladesh, coming one year and two months after the inauguration of the Padma Bridge itself in June last year.
The rail link project is estimated to cost Taka 39,246.80 crore, with Taka 21,036.70 crore provided as a loan by the Exim Bank of China. Upon completion, it will improve accessibility between Dhaka, Jessore, and Khulna, shortening the route by 212.05 km and facilitating regional and international freight and BG container train services.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the ongoing mild to moderate heat wave affecting six regions of the country will persist for the next 24 hours from 9 am today.
The heat wave is currently sweeping over the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, as well as the districts of Tangail, Kishoreganj, and Naogaon. According to the BMD, this weather pattern is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
In addition to the heat wave, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur in parts of the Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions. Isolated showers may also affect a few areas in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy rainfall expected in some locations across the country.
Despite these weather conditions, the BMD noted that daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged across Bangladesh.
On Wednesday, the highest temperature in the country was recorded at 37.5 degrees Celsius in Rangpur of Rangpur division, while today’s minimum temperature was 24.0 degrees Celsius, observed in Rangamati and Feni districts of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded over the last 24 hours, up until 6 am today, measured 54 mm in Sandwip of the Chattogram division.
In Dhaka, the sun is set to set at 5:58 pm today and will rise again at 5:47 am tomorrow.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed 17 cases against Beximco Group’s Vice-Chairman, Salman F Rahman, and 27 others, accusing them of laundering approximately Tk1,000 crore ($83 million) under the guise of export trade. This development was confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman through a notification on 18 September.
The investigation, conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, found that Salman F Rahman and his brother, ASF Rahman, who serves as the Chairman of Beximco Group, were involved in laundering around Tk1,000 crore. This was done through the export of goods linked to 93 Letters of Credit (LCs) from Janata Bank PLC between 2021 and 2024. However, the proceeds from these exports were not repatriated to Bangladesh.
The CID revealed that the accused individuals, through an organised operation involving their affiliated companies, exported goods with the malicious intent of transferring money abroad. The probe indicated that they deliberately failed to return the export proceeds, violating multiple sections of the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
According to the CID, Salman F Rahman and his associates used their influence and collaborated with an organised criminal group to launder money. This resulted in 17 cases being filed by the CID’s financial crime unit at Motijheel Police Station.
Salman F Rahman, who has long been a prominent figure during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, is now facing an in-depth investigation by the CID’s financial crime unit. The investigation focuses on significant allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct, as highlighted in a preliminary report from the CID on 1 September.
Salman is also accused of laundering Tk33,470 crore abroad, allegedly obtained through loans from seven banks over the past 15 years. Of this, Tk21,681 crore was borrowed from state-owned Janata Bank, while Tk5,281 crore came from IFIC Bank, where Salman previously served as chairman.
In addition to these allegations, Salman is believed to have profited Tk6,600 crore through manipulation of the capital market and is accused of failing to repatriate Tk1,485 crore from export proceeds.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, in all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 AM today.
According to the BMD forecast, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers, while Dhaka and Barishal divisions may see similar weather at a few locations. In Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions, rainfall is expected in one or two places, with some areas potentially experiencing moderately heavy showers.
The BMD also stated that both day and night temperatures might rise slightly across the country.
On Tuesday, the highest temperature was recorded at 36.5 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat, Rangpur division, while today’s lowest temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, also in Rangpur.
In the last 24 hours up to 6 AM today, Cumilla in the Chattogram division recorded 3 mm of rainfall.
The sun is expected to set at 5:58 PM today and rise at 5:46 AM tomorrow in Dhaka.
