He says the proposed rail link was a long-term plan, with its feasibility to be assessed after broad-gauge conversion based on passenger demand and expected ridership.
Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain responds to questions from journalists after inspecting Panchagarh Railway Station today, 30 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
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Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain responds to questions from journalists after inspecting Panchagarh Railway Station today, 30 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
Bangladesh Railway Director General (DG) Afzal Hossain today (30 October) said the possibility of introducing direct train services between Panchagarh and Cox’s Bazar would be considered after the conversion of all railway lines in the country to broad gauge.
He described the proposed rail connectivity as a long-term plan, saying its feasibility would be assessed after completion of the broad-gauge conversion, taking into account passenger demand and potential ridership.
The DG made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after arriving at Panchagarh Railway Station by train from Dhaka and inspecting its various facilities and operational activities.
He said the railway authorities would also consider extending the rail line to Banglabandha Land Port, the country’s only quadrilateral land port, if an agreement could be reached between Bangladesh and India.
However, he noted that the proposed project had been kept on hold for the time being due to uncertainty over its regional connectivity benefits, as there is no railway connection on the Indian side beyond Banglabandha.
Although the project could serve some domestic connectivity needs, its main objective of establishing regional rail connectivity would not be achieved without linking the line to India’s railway network across the border, he said.
The DG said the railway line could be extended to Banglabandha in the future if India agreed to the proposal.
Regarding the introduction of new trains from Panchagarh, he said there was an immediate plan to launch a new train from the district.
Eighteen coaches have already arrived in the country, while another 200 coaches are expected to arrive in phases. These coaches will be used both for introducing new train services and replacing old ones, he said.
He added that new trains would be introduced and existing coaches replaced gradually as the new coaches arrive.
On the development of Panchagarh Railway Station, Afzal Hossain said the inspection was aimed at assessing its existing loading and unloading capacity and identifying the need for additional facilities.
He said railway infrastructure would be expanded in line with demand and the availability of land.
If required, the authorities would consider expanding platforms and existing railway lines or constructing additional tracks alongside the existing ones to accommodate more coaches, he added.
The DG said the inspection was part of an overall assessment of the station’s capacity and future infrastructure requirements.
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