10 More Districts Set to Get Railway Connectivity

The government has announced plans to expand the railway network to 10 more districts as part of efforts to strengthen nationwide rail connectivity and improve transport services.

Railways, Road Transport and Bridges, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the expansion would cover several districts in the greater Dhaka region and the country’s southern belt, including Sherpur, Meherpur, Magura, Satkhira, Barishal, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur and Lakshmipur.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the minister said the initiative was discussed during a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, where progress on railway development, connectivity and service improvements was reviewed.

He said several important decisions had been taken to strengthen the country’s transport infrastructure and expand rail access across underserved areas.

The minister added that major projects, including the Akhaura–Sylhet and Sirajganj–Bogura rail links, are moving forward, while a container depot project at Dhirashram has already received approval.

Plans are also underway to convert missing metre-gauge sections between Tongi–Akhaura and Laksam–Sylhet into dual-gauge double lines to improve efficiency and capacity.

In addition, a proposed Dhaka–Cumilla chord rail line has received policy approval, with authorities preparing for implementation.

Currently, 49 districts are connected to the railway network. The government aims to gradually expand rail services to all 64 districts as part of its long-term transport development goals.

The minister also said commuter train services are being considered on routes including Dhaka–Manikganj and Dhaka–Narsingdi to ease travel and improve daily commuting options.