Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar train service by December next year: Minister

Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan has said direct railway communication from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar will start after the railway line construction up to Cox's Bazar is completed by December 2022.

"Even though the project is scheduled to last till June 2022, I am announcing with six months in hand that people will be able to come to Cox's Bazar by train next year," the railways minister said while laying the foundation stone of the iconic railway station building in Cox's Bazar on Thursday, reads a press release.

The minister said the prime minister has attached importance to the neglected railway sector and is developing it extensively. 

"She has created a separate ministry. Many railway projects are underway. The work of restructuring the railways started in 2011."

He also said two of the ten megaprojects of the government are of the development of Bangladesh Railway, one of which is the construction of a new railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar.

Regarding the project, he said the rail line will be extended in the future from Cox's Bazar to Gundam near Myanmar via Ramu and up to China.

The minister mentioned if Cox's Bazar railway line is launched, there will be a huge expansion of tourism, which will play an important role in the progress of the country. 

He further mentioned that this project is being carried out as planned. The iconic station building will have an international dimension and will attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. All the facilities of international standard have ensured in this iconic building.

It may be mentioned that an oyster-shaped railway station building is being constructed in Cox's Bazar at Tk215 crore. All facilities will be kept in this 6-storey building.

Director General of Bangladesh Railway Shamsuzzaman presided over the function while Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Mohammad Selim Reza spoke as special guest.

Zafar Alam, lawmaker from Cox's Bazar-1 constituency; Saimum Sarwar Kamal, lawmaker from Cox's Bazar-3 constituency; Kaniz Fatema Ahmed lawmaker to the reserved women's seat for Cox's Bazar; Nadira Yasmin Jolly, member of the Standing Committee on Railways Ministry; and Md Mamunur Rashid, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, were present on the occasion.