Bangladesh is set to take a significant step forward in modernising its rail connectivity, with a major infrastructure upgrade that will enable direct, non-stop train services from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar without halting at Chattogram station. The transformation is being made possible through a substantial loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), underscoring growing international confidence in the country’s transport ambitions.
Under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Chattogram–Dohazari Railway Project, ADB is providing a loan of 690 million US dollars, equivalent to approximately Tk 8,280 crore, to upgrade the 35-kilometre rail section between Chattogram and Dohazari. A key feature of the project is the construction of a 2.5-kilometre railway bypass, which will allow long-distance passenger and freight trains to skirt Chattogram station altogether, cutting travel time and easing congestion at one of the country’s busiest rail hubs.
The initiative forms part of the broader project titled “Conversion of the Chattogram–Dohazari Metre Gauge Railway Line into Dual Gauge”, implemented by Bangladesh Railway under the supervision of the Ministry of Railways. Once completed, the project will establish uninterrupted rail connectivity along the Dhaka–Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar corridor, significantly improving regional mobility and logistics efficiency.
A formal loan agreement was signed on Monday at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The loan carries a 25-year repayment period, including a five-year grace period.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the ADB Country Director noted that the project would play a decisive role in strengthening rail connectivity between the capital and the country’s premier tourist destination. He expressed optimism that improved rail services would encourage a shift away from road transport, reducing pressure on highways while promoting safer and more sustainable travel. The enhanced corridor is also expected to stimulate economic activity, particularly in tourism, fisheries, and trade-related sectors.
According to project details, the scheme aims to convert 52 kilometres of track on the Chattogram–Dohazari section into dual gauge, link the under-construction Dohazari–Cox’s Bazar rail corridor with the Dhaka–Chattogram mainline, increase train speeds, and modernise rolling stock. This includes procuring spare parts to replace ageing locomotives and acquiring 30 new locomotives to meet rising demand.
ADB has highlighted the strategic importance of the corridor, noting that as part of the Trans-Asian Railway Network, the Dhaka–Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route already carries around 32 per cent of Bangladesh’s rail passengers and 55 per cent of its freight traffic.