(sh6)@ BANGLADESH TRAIN

Rail transport in Bangladesh began on 15 November, 1862, when 53.11 km of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) (broad gauge) line was opened between Darshana in Chuadanga District and Jogotee in Kushtia District. On 4 January 1885, a further 14.98 km 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (metre gauge) line was opened. In 1891, the Bengal Assam Railway was constructed with the assistance of the British Government. It was later run by the Bengal Assam Railway Company.

On 1 July 1895, two sections of metre gauge railway were constructed by English railway companies. One connected Chittagong and Comilla (149.89 km). The other connected Laksam Upazila and Chandpur (50.89 km).[5]

20th century Edit
In 1947, at the time of the Partition of India, the Bengal Assam Railway was divided into two parts. The 2,603.92 km of track located in East Pakistan, came under the control of the central Government of Pakistan. On 1 February 1961, the Eastern Bengal Railway was renamed the "Pakistan Eastern Railway". In 1962, control of the Pakistan Eastern Railway was transferred to the Government of East Pakistan. On 9 June 1962, by order of the president, the Pakistan Eastern Railway management was assumed by a Railway Board.[5]

21st century

Jamuna Express at Kamalapur station
In 2005, the total length of the Bangladesh Railway was 2,855 km.[6] There was 660 km of broad gauge track (mostly in the western region), 1,830 km of metre gauge track (mostly in the central and eastern regions) and 365 km of dual gauge track.[7] In 1998, the Jamuna Bridge was built to connect the previously divided east and west rail networks in dual gauge.[8]

In 2010, funding was received for a bridge over the Titas River.[9] In September 2010, the Government of Bangladesh approved ten rail development projects costing 19·9 billion Bangladeshi taka including plans for new tracks and rolling stock.[10]

In 2011, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the Prime Minister of Bangledesh, officiated at the start of construction of a link which would cross several rivers to reach Cox's Bazaar. The 100 km of gauge line started from the railhead at Dohazari, southeast of Chittagong. The plan was to reach Satkania, Dulahazra, Chakarin, Edgaon, Ramu and Cox's Bazar, with four major river bridges and a 28 km branch from Ramu to Gundum. In 2013, the Chittagong Circular Railway was completed.

In 2015, construction of a 15 km branch to Agartala, Tripura in Northeast India commenced.[11] In 2017, land acquisition took place to facilitate the construction.