United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Saturday (8th November 2025) said good governance and reforms cannot be achieved overnight, noting that in some countries such reforms took more than a decade of discussions. Addressing a programme organised by the Citizen Platform at a city hotel on Saturday afternoon, he said the national election would be held in the first half of February as the Chief Adviser and other advisers are actively working to ensure it. “There’s no uncertainty about the election. Discussions on reforms may take place afterward,” he said. Regarding the voting system, Shafiqul Alam said if political parties fail to take a decision, the interim government will make one. Responding to criticism that farmers, women and workers were not consulted on the July Charter, he questioned, “Don’t political parties represent these people?” Misinformation big threat to democracy: Shafiqul Alam Shafiqul also urged political parties to take a clear stance regarding ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Everyone must make their position clear. Sheikh Hasina again said today that those who took part in the July movement are terrorists. Awami League wants to return to power by branding 180 million people as terrorists and committing killings in the name of fighting terrorism,” he said. The Press Secretary said creating jobs in the country will be a major challenge for the next government as artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market everywhere. Mentioning that revamping development projects will also be a challenge, Shafiqul said, “Five billion dollars have been invested in railway projects — all of which somehow connect to Gopalganj. These were done under Sheikh Hasina’s corrupt system.” Read more: Govt watching Hasina’s actions; she’s Bengal's ‘butcher’: Press Secretary

Once hailed as a gateway to economic transformation, the long-awaited Khulna–Mongla railway now stands as a symbol of unfulfilled promise. The 91-kilometre line, built to connect the country’s second seaport with the national rail network, was seen as a game changer for trade and industry. Yet, one and a half years on, the dream remains unfulfilled. Constructed at a cost of Tk 4,261 crore, the project was designed to provide a faster and more cost-effective route for transporting import and export goods through Mongla Port. Despite the impressive infrastructure, the line has so far failed to deliver on its economic promise. At present, the railway is being used only for passenger services, while freight operations remain almost idle. According to railway sources, goods have been transported just three times since the line was inaugurated in 2023 — on 6 February, 23 March, and 25 June of 2025 — carrying a total of around 19,000 metric tonnes from Chattogram to Sirajganj. No freight movement has taken place since then. Read more: Darshana Railway Station falls silent as cross-border trade grinds to a halt Initiated in 2010 with foreign loan support, the Khulna–Mongla railway was implemented by India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and IRCON International. It features a 5.13-kilometre railway bridge over the Rupsha River — the largest in the southwest — along with nine stations, 66 small bridges, and 246 culverts. On paper, it has all the elements of a transformative project. In reality, both locals and experts say it has fallen short of expectations. Local residents said regular freight train services could have generated jobs, spurred industrial growth, and strengthened the regional economy. Instead, they now see a costly piece of infrastructure sitting largely underused. Business owners echo similar frustrations, pointing to a lack of coordination between Mongla Port and the railway as a key reason behind the stagnation. “The infrastructure exists, but there is no effective coordination, so the potential remains untapped,” said Md Sajjadul Islam, Proprietor of Zain International. Several importers have blamed operational limitations at Mongla Port, including limited capacity for large vessels, outdated cranes, inadequate storage and container facilities, and slow unloading operations, for discouraging freight movement by rail. Read more: Bangladesh Railway sets sights on new locomotives to revamp services: Sheikh Moinuddin Despite these challenges, railway officials insist they are fully prepared to handle freight transport. “We have made all necessary preparations including rakes and engines. But due to the limited volume of goods at Mongla Port, we cannot yet run regular services,” said Farid Ahmed, Manager of Railway Western Zone. He said the railway authorities are holding meetings with industrialists, exporters, and importers to promote the benefits of rail-based transport and attract more freight users. Meanwhile, Mongla Port Authority Director (Traffic) Md Kamal Hossain said that efforts are underway to modernise port facilities and expand terminals. “We are considering various incentives to encourage importers and boost port activities,” he said. Experts say the project’s struggles reflect a broader issue, a lack of strategic coordination among key stakeholders. Economist Anwarul Qadir believes that the Khulna–Mongla railway had the potential to transform the Southwest’s economy if freight operations had started as planned. “This was a loan-funded project, and the interest burden is growing,” Prof Qadir warned. “To make it viable, the government must adopt a coordinated plan linking the port, railway, and commercial stakeholders. If regular freight movement begins, it could revitalise the entire southern economy,” Qadir added. Read more: Mongla Port exceeds net profit target by Tk 41.64 crore in FY25

Bangladesh Railway has arranged seven pairs of special trains to facilitate the smooth transportation of devotees attending the three-day Biswa Ijtema, the world’s second-largest Muslim congregation.  To accommodate the influx of passengers, all inter-city trains—including Subarna Express, Sonar Bangla Express, Cox’s Bazar Express, Tourist Express, and Banalata Express—will make two-minute stopovers at Tongi Station from 12:01 am on January 31 until the Akheri Munajat (final prayer) on February 2.   Extortion: Battery-run autorickshaw drivers block Dhaka-Aricha highway Additionally, the weekly off day for the Joydebpur Commuter Train has been rescheduled from Saturday to Friday during the Ijtema.   On February 2, the Turag Commuter trains will remain suspended for the Akheri Munajat, and mail trains numbered 11, 12, 45, 46, 9, and 10 will also be halted for the day.   Trains roll back to tracks after running staff calls off strike To manage the increased number of passengers, additional bogies will be attached to express, commuter, and local trains, along with the operation of special trains. Moreover, temporary booking counters will be set up at Tongi Station to assist travelers.  

The government has introduced Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) bus services on key railway routes to facilitate passenger transportation amid a nationwide rail disruption, according to a press release from the Ministry of Railways on Tuesday. Train operations have been halted nationwide since early Tuesday after Bangladesh Railway's operating crew began an indefinite strike, demanding special post-retirement benefits. As an alternative to trains, BRTC bus services have been introduced on important railway routes for passenger transportation. Railway Adviser urges running staff to end strike as discussions continue Passengers travelling to Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna, Cumilla, Bogura, and Mymensingh from Dhaka Railway Station and Airport Railway Station can travel using the BRTC bus service with their purchased train tickets. They can also travel to Dhaka from these locations using this service, the release said. The BRTC bus service will remain in operation until further notice. This measure aims to minimise inconvenience to passengers and ensure continued connectivity during the disruption, the release added. Kamalapur Railway Station Master Mohammad Anwar Hossain told UNB that all trains scheduled to depart until 12:00 am on Monday eventually left their origin station, despite delays. Train communications halt nationwide after talks on extra benefits fail However, trains scheduled to depart after midnight did not operate due to the work stoppage. The last scheduled train on Monday departed from Kamalapur Station at 1:00 am. Passengers with tickets for the cancelled trains, both online and offline were being refunded.

Nationwide train movement halted since early Tuesday after Bangladesh Railway's running staff launched an indefinite strike to demand special post-retirement benefits. The strike began at midnight Monday after talks between railway authorities and the union of train drivers and support staff collapsed. As a result, trains scheduled to depart after midnight from originating stations were cancelled, bringing train operations across the country to a standstill. Bent rail tracks: ‘Banalata Express’ avoids accident The strike stems from the staff's demands for several unresolved issues, including the inclusion of running allowances in their basic pay for pension calculations. Running staff, such as train drivers, guards, and ticket checkers, are participating in this protest. Saeedur Rahman, general secretary of the Dhaka Division Committee of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Association, said, “We have not received any decisions from railway authorities. We remain steadfast in our decision to halt train operations.” Passengers have faced significant inconvenience as trains scheduled to depart after midnight failed to leave their stations. The running staff confirmed that trains scheduled to leave their originating stations after midnight were halted. As per regulations, a running staff member is entitled to 12 hours of rest upon returning to their headquarters or 8 hours if stationed outside. If required to work during rest hours for the benefit of railway operations, additional compensation known as mileage benefits is provided. However, due to objections from the Ministry of Finance, the running staff has reportedly been deprived of this benefit, which is one of the key points of contention. Karwan Bazar Railway: The go-to place for illegal drugs in Dhaka Mohammad Anwar Hossain, the station master of Kamalapur Railway Station, told UNB that all trains scheduled to depart until 12:00 am on Monday eventually left their origin station, despite delays. However, trains scheduled to depart after midnight did not operate due to the work stoppage. The last scheduled train on Monday departed from Kamalapur Station at 1:00 am. Passengers with tickets for the cancelled trains, both online and offline, are being refunded.

Rail communication between Dhaka and other parts of country has restored after nearly three hours of suspension due to demonstration by some temporary workers of railway at Tejgaon. Some temporary workers of Bangladesh Railway blocked the rail tracks at Karwanbazar in Tejgaon in the capital demanding the payment of five months' unpaid wages around 10:45 am on Tuesday. These Temporary Labour Register (TLR) workers  including porters, gatekeepers (traffic/engineering), cleaners, waymen, office assistants, and waiting room caretakers are employed on a daily basis. Joynal Abedin, Officer-in-Charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station, said the blockade was lifted at 12:50 pm and then the  train services resumed.

Commuter trains will run on short distances from tomorrow (July 25, 2024), Additional Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Arifuzzaman said on Wednesday. “One or two commuter trains will operate from tomorrow on short distance routes. It will take time to resume operation of inter-city trains once the current situation improves,” he told UNB. Besides, network disruption also causes delay of train services as tickets are available online, he added. Read more: AP report: Bangladesh moves back to normalcy after violent clashes that killed nearly 200 people Under the circumstances, commuter trains will operate on the Dhaka-Narayanganj and Ishwardi routes while the authorities will try their level best to resume commuter trains on Dhaka-Joydebpur route, he said. The Burimari commuter train will operate from Lalmonirhat district, said the additional DG. He also said that freight trains or oil-carrying trains were operating since Monday.

Train communication on the 138.64 km Benapole-Mongla route began operations today (June 01, 2024), carrying 500 passengers on its inaugural journey. Saidur Rahman, Benapole Rail Station Master, reported that the commuter train departed for Mongla port at around 10 am, reaching Mongla via Khulna's Phultala at approximately 12:50 pm. Train services on Benapole-Mongla route set to start from June 1 The commuter train will operate daily, except on Tuesdays, according to Asim Kumar Talukdar, General Manager of the Railway Western Zone. The route includes stopovers at Navaron, Jhikargacha, Jashore Junction, Rupdia, Singia, Chengutia, Noapara, Bejerdanga, Phultala, Aronghata, Mohammadnagar, Katakhali, Chulkati Bazar, Bhaga, and Digraj stations. Train derailment in Bogura: Communication resumes after 2 hrs The new service follows a trial run that began on November 1, when a train was operated on the 138.64 km Khulna-Mongla rail tracks. After seven months of testing, the train service is now officially launched.

Starting in July, residents of Chuadanga district will have direct train access to Dhaka, reducing travel time to just five hours. The Bangladesh Railway is resuming direct rail service on the Dhaka-Darshana route, this time via the Padma Bridge, a move anticipated to greatly benefit commuters. A media release from the Railway’s Western region announced that a pair of trains will run on this route. The first train will depart Darshana for Dhaka around 7 am, arriving at noon. It will then leave Dhaka at 1 pm, reaching Darshana by 4 pm. The second train will operate from 4:30 pm to 9:40 pm and from 11:55 pm to 5 am the following morning. In addition, three trains—Chitra, Benapole, and Sundarban Express—will operate from Jashore's Rupdia or Padmabila to Dhaka via Kushtia, Mobarakganj, and Kotchandpur through the Padma Bridge. Passengers disembarking from moving trains raises safety concerns Currently, Bangladesh Railway operates local, mail, commuter, and intercity trains. Fares range from Tk 0.39 per km for local trains to Tk 1.95 per km for air-conditioned intercity trains. Abdullah Al Mamun, a Dhaka-bound passenger at Chuadanga Rail Station, expressed optimism: “The train line is divided into two parts. If these two trains start, we will benefit from the passenger-tickets, and hopefully, we will get tickets on time. Besides, it will take less time to go to Dhaka.”

Bangladesh Railways has initiated a comprehensive modernisation of its signal system, with the aim to transition entirely to broad gauge tracks by 2050. This initiative is expected to eliminate collisions and enhance overall safety. In an exclusive interview with UNB, Sardar Shahadat Ali, Director General of Bangladesh Railway, elaborated on the ongoing and future projects. “We have taken steps to modernise the signal system progressively across all areas. Though the traditional lamp signals are old, they are time-tested; implementing a digital system is a costly affair,” Ali stated. The Bangladesh Railway DG acknowledged the recent increase in train collisions, attributing them to faulty signal systems. “Until 2030, we will procure locomotives for meter gauge, but after that, we will cease their acquisition. By 2050, the complete transition to broad gauge will prevent such collisions,” he assured. Discussing the current locomotive scenario, Ali mentioned that the existing broad gauge locomotives sufficiently meet demand. “We plan to bring in 46 more locomotives for broad gauge and 50 for meter gauge. Additionally, the Chattogram-Dohazari project includes the acquisition of 30 more locomotives. However, we are facing a slight shortage of meter gauge locomotives.” Passengers disembarking from moving trains raises safety concerns Highlighting the advancements, Ali pointed out, “A tender for the digital signal system from Abdullahpur to Parbatipur has been issued and is under evaluation. The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project will see a digital system operational by June. Areas like Tongi, Joydebpur, Dinajpur, and the eastern and western sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge, will transition to an interlocking system once the ongoing non-interlocking projects are completed.” Ali also touched upon the challenges of maintaining meter gauge locomotives, which involve transporting them over the Jamuna Bridge to the central locomotive workshop that is facing workforce shortages. “We expect to resolve these issues by 2030 with the arrival of new locomotives,” he noted. Addressing locomotive defects, the railway DG said, “We have identified some issues with the 3000 series locomotives. Our service engineers are addressing these, and during the warranty period, we aim to rectify all identified problems.” Regarding the lack of skilled personnel, he said, “It is not possible to immediately hire skilled personnel. First, we need to recruit people and then train them to become skilled and proficient. As employees retire, new ones will be hired and trained to become proficient – this will be a continuous process.” Burimari Express derails in Pabna, train service between Dhaka and north disrupted To improve railway services, Ali stated, “We are focusing on timely train departures and arrivals, cleanliness, and food quality. There are no longer ticket black markets, and tickets can be easily purchased online or at stations. Despite high demand, train journeys remain comfortable.” When asked about expanding train connectivity, he confirmed, “The government is committed to improving train communication across the country. We are increasing the number of trains and coaches as needed, and new locomotives will be purchased to meet future demands.”