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DHAKA, November 13, 2026: The government plans to expand the country’s proposed electric train network to Chattogram following the implementation of a pilot project on the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur railway corridor, as part of a broader initiative to modernise Bangladesh’s railway system.
The proposed expansion is expected to introduce electric train services on the busy Dhaka-Chattogram railway corridor, improving passenger transportation, accelerating freight movement and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Bangladesh Railway Planning Cell and Chief Planning Officer Engineer Md Rafiqul Islam said the government had taken an initiative to introduce modern electric trains capable of running at speeds of up to 140 kilometres per hour.
The Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section has been selected as the country’s first electric train corridor.
The pilot project has already received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The project is estimated to cost around Tk 3,500 crore, with most of the funding expected to come from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The government will bear domestic expenses, including customs duties, VAT and costs related to imported materials.
The tendering process is expected to be completed by 2027, while major construction activities are scheduled to gain momentum from mid-2028.
Under the pilot project, 16 sets of modern Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains will be imported. These trains will have driving facilities at both ends, eliminating the need to turn them around and allowing services to operate at regular intervals.
The expansion to Chattogram is considered a significant step towards establishing a modern electric railway network connecting major economic and commercial centres.
Rafiqul Islam said the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor was particularly important for passenger and freight transportation, as it connects the capital with the country’s principal seaport.
Introducing electric locomotives on this route could improve the transportation of containers and heavy goods while reducing travel time and operating expenses.
Currently, only around 60,000 to 70,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers are transported annually by rail from Chattogram to Dhaka, accounting for approximately three per cent of the total container traffic.
The Dhirashram Inland Container Depot (ICD) project aims to increase annual railway container transportation capacity to 450,000 TEUs, creating further opportunities for freight movement by rail.
Bangladesh Railway is undertaking several infrastructure development initiatives to support the introduction and expansion of electric train services.
Construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Dhaka and Tongi is progressing, while the double-line construction work on the Tongi-Joydebpur section has already been completed.
Additional land is also being acquired at Joydebpur to establish a modern EMU depot and workshop for train maintenance and operational support.
Meanwhile, existing metre-gauge railway lines on the Tongi-Akhaura and Laksam-Chattogram sections are being converted into dual-gauge double lines, which are expected to strengthen the infrastructure for future railway electrification.
Bangladesh Railway is prioritising electric trains capable of running at speeds of up to 140 kilometres per hour rather than introducing bullet trains with speeds of around 350 kilometres per hour.
According to Rafiqul Islam, introducing bullet trains would require an estimated investment of Tk 1.5 lakh crore to Tk 2.5 lakh crore, alongside major challenges involving land acquisition and the country’s densely populated agricultural landscape.
The proposed electric railway system is therefore considered a more practical and cost-effective approach to modernising the country’s railway network.
The initiative is also expected to reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. Bangladesh Railway is assessing the environmental benefits of its projects, including the potential to generate carbon credits through internationally recognised mechanisms.
Once implemented, the wider electric railway network could significantly improve passenger connectivity, freight transportation and railway efficiency across the country.