United News of Bangladesh

Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country resumed four hours after a wagon of an oil-laden freight train derailed in Mallikpur area of Fenchuganj upazila on Saturday night (November 29). According to railway officials, a wagon of freight train No. 952 went off the tracks around 9:30pm, snapping Sylhet’s rail links with Dhaka and Chattogram. A relief train from Kulaura reached the spot and managed to salvage the derailed oil wagon. Read more: Sylhet Osmani Int’l Airport expansion project rises by Tk 470 crore  Following the rescue operation, two Dhaka- and Chattogram-bound trains departed the station around 12:30am, Railway Police Station Sylhet Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Quddus said. Railway sources said the special tank train had arrived in Sylhet from Chattogram early Saturday to unload oil and was returning to Chattogram when the incident occurred. As it reached Mallikpur around 9:30pm, the wheels of one of its wagons slipped off the tracks, leading to the disruption. Read more: Dream project derails; Khulna-Mongla railway struggles without freight flow

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

In a significant development for Bangladesh’s transport and logistics sector, the first-ever freight train from Mongla Sea Port set off on Friday morning, carrying a consignment of molasses. The train, consisting of thirty wagons loaded with 1,050 metric tonnes of molasses, departed for Baghabari in Sirajganj from United Refinery and Bulk Storage Limited, located at the port, said a media release issued by the Mongla Port Authority on Saturday. Chinese scientists create rice strain that boosts heart health Upon arrival in Sirajganj, the molasses consignment will be distributed to several feed companies across the country. Officials believe that the introduction of freight train services from Mongla Port will significantly reduce transportation costs for businesses and encourage greater use of the port for both imports and exports. Makruzzaman, Deputy Director (Board & Public Relations) of the Mongla Port Authority, the Panama-flagged vessel MT Dolphin-19 departed from Karachi Port, Pakistan, on 22 January, carrying 5,500 metric tonnes of molasses. The ship arrived at Mongla Port’s Jetty 8 on 6 February, where the liquid cargo was subsequently unloaded and stored at United Refinery and Bulk Storage Limited. Train operation on Jamuna Railway Bridge begins Industry stakeholders view this development as a crucial step towards enhancing Mongla Port’s role in the country’s trade and logistics network, offering businesses a more cost-effective alternative for transporting goods across Bangladesh.  

Bangladesh Railway has suspended thee of its employees over Sunday’s collision between Sonar Bangla Express train and a freight train that left 35 people injured. They are Abdul Quader, a guard (Chattogram division) ; Jasim Uddin, locomotive master (Dhaka headquarter); and Md Mohsin, assistant locomotive master (Dhaka headquarter). Wahid, who was in charge of maintaining Hasanpur station signal, was also suspended. Also Read: Two trains collide at Hasanpur Station in Cumilla; at least 20 injured A  four-member probe body was formed which was asked to submit the report within three working days. Meanwhile, the train movement resumed after 9 pm on Sunday after two salvage trains removed the bogies from the main lines, train examiner SM Akhtar Hossain and Station Master of Hasanpur Railway Station Mong Marma said. Work to remove the other bogies is underway, they said.  Six bogies and the locomotive of Sonar Bangla Express train derailed on Sunday injuring at least 35 passengers and six of them are in critical condition. Several of the injured are being treated at Nangalkot Health Complex. Officer-in-charge of Laksham Railway Police Station Jashim Uddin said, the Dhaka bound freight train was stationed in a line on the Hasanpur station. Dhaka- bound Sonar Bangla Express from Chattagram wrongly entered the same line and hit the rear side of the freight train at around 6:22 pm.  

Rail Communication on Mymensingh-Netrakona –Chattogram route resumed on Sunday morning after three hours of suspension following derailment of a freight train in Balashpur in Mymensingh city on Sunday morning. A wagon of Dhaka-bound Mymensingh/Nasirabad Express train veered off the tracks this morning, said Mymensingh GRP Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Mohiuddin Ahmed. Read more: Freight train derails in Gazipur The rail communication on Netrakona-Bhairab-Chattogram route along with Mymensingh was suspended due to the derailment, he said. On information, a relief train from Kewatkhali loco shadow went to the scene and salvaged the derailed wagon, he added.  

An Ishwardi-bound freight train derailed at Halsa railway station in Kushtia on Saturday morning. Two oil tankers of the train derailed around 6.45am, said Sajedul Islam, assistant transport officer of Pakshi Divisional Railway. Thankfully, the movement of trains has not been affected in the southern region, including Dhaka, as the derailment occurred on the loop line, he added. Read: Train derailment in east Iran kills at least 10, injures 50 Meanwhile, a four-member committee has been formed to probe the derailment and submit its report within three working days. On information, a rescue train from Ishwardi was sent to the spot, added the officer.  

Rail services between Dhaka and Chattogram have been suspended since Tuesday morning, following the derailment of a freight train at Tongi junction of Gazipur district. Nur Mohammad, in-charge of Tongi railway, said that three bogies of the freight train veered off the tracks in the junction area around 10.30 am, disrupting rail services on three key routes -- Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Mymensingh. Read:Derailment: Rail communication between Khulna and rest of the country suspended Though authorities managed to restore services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and the Dhaka-Sylhet routes, train communication on the Dhaka-Chattogram route is yet to resume. A relief train has already reached the spot to conduct the salvage operation. No causality was reported till the filling of this report around 1 pm.

Three people, including the loco master, were injured when a shuttle train of Chittagong University (CU) derailed after a collision with a freight train at Sholoshahar Railway Station in the port city of Chattogram on Wednesday.