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.
