Railway to invite fresh online ticketing tender by Feb

Bangladesh Railway is preparing to invite a fresh tender for a vendor to manage its online ticketing system before its contract with Shohoz.com expires in February next year.

The information was disclosed at the second meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Railways held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today (26 October).

Committee Chairman Mohammad Ali Asghar chaired the meeting, which discussed measures to ensure transparency in the management of online railway ticketing.

The Ministry of Railways informed the meeting that container trains operate regularly on the Chattogram-Dhaka route, while fuel and food grains are transported to different destinations by rail.

However, the number of freight trains has declined due to a shortage of metre-gauge locomotives in Bangladesh Railway’s fleet.

The ministry informed the committee that a development project proposal (DPP) for procuring 30 metre-gauge locomotives has recently been approved, while a tender has already been invited to procure another 30 under a previously approved project.

Once the two groups of locomotives are procured by 2029, Bangladesh Railway will be able to increase freight services carrying containers, fuel, food grains and other goods, thereby boosting its revenue, the ministry said.

Procurement of another 20 metre-gauge locomotives under the World Bank-funded Green Railway project is also underway.

The meeting was further informed that 200 broad-gauge coaches will be added to Bangladesh Railway’s fleet in phases, with 18 already received.

The committee reviewed progress in implementing the ministry’s budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

It also reviewed reports on Bangladesh Railway’s land holdings, including land in use, leased land and illegally occupied land, as well as revenue from leased land, lists of leaseholders and illegal occupiers, and land-related court cases.

The installation of solar panels on railway land and structures was also discussed.

The committee recommended that the ministry appoint lawyers for Bangladesh Railway’s legal department and take steps to resolve pending court cases.

It also asked the ministry to take gradual steps to make Bangladesh Railway profitable and ensure the appointment of adequate personnel at level crossings.

The committee further suggested that the ministry conduct a feasibility study on a railway line from Bhanga to Barishal and introduce a morning commuter train service between Benapole and Khulna.

Committee members, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid, Abdul Mohit Talukder, Esrat Sultana Elen Bhutto and Muhammad Azizur Rahman attended the meeting.

The railways secretary, additional secretaries, the director general of Bangladesh Railway, other senior officials concerned and officials of the Parliament Secretariat were also present.