Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially opened the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line today, expressing her joy as Cox’s Bazar becomes integrated into the railway network. The inauguration ceremony took place at 12:58 pm at the iconic Cox’s Bazar railway station.
During her address, the prime minister thanked all those involved in the project and fulfilled her promise to connect Cox’s Bazar to the railway network. She emphasized the importance of taking proper care of the newly established facilities. The inauguration program, which commenced at 11:40 am, saw Prime Minister Hasina joining at 11:35 am.
Originally conceived in 2010 as a metre-gauge track from Dohazari to Ghundum, the project evolved into a dual-gauge line to Cox’s Bazar town, resulting in a total cost of Tk 18,034.47 crore. The decision to alter the plan was influenced by Myanmar’s lack of initiative in constructing a rail line to its border at Ghundum. The 102km Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line, now part of the Trans-Asian Railway Network, features nine new stations along its route. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the project, initially scheduled for completion in June 2013, saw track laying activities commence in March 2018.
According to Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon, train services on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route are set to commence on December 1 with an inter-city train.