The country’s longest railway bridge, the ‘Jamuna Railway Bridge,’ has been inaugurated. On Tuesday (March 18) at 11:40 AM, the bridge was inaugurated by the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Md. Fahimul Islam, at the eastern end of the bridge at Ibrahimabad Station. As a result, a new chapter has begun in rail communication between Dhaka and the northern and southern regions. The inaugural special train crossed the bridge in just three and a half minutes.
After the inauguration, at 12:12 PM, the newly decorated special train departed for Sirajganj’s Sayadabad Station. In the six-car inaugural special train, guests and other relevant individuals crossed the Jamuna Railway Bridge and reached Sayadabad Railway Station in Sirajganj, where they held a press conference.
This inaugural train has two locomotives on each side, and among the six coaches, there are two AC chair cars, one Shovon coach, one dining car, and one power car.
The inauguration ceremony was chaired by the Director General of Bangladesh Railways, Md. Afzal Hossain. Special guests included the Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Saida Shinichi, and the Director General of JICA’s South Asia Division, Mr. Ito Teruyuki. Also present were the Project Director of the Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction Project, Al Fattah Md. Masudur Rahman, Tangail District Commissioner (DC) Sharifa Hoque, and District Police Superintendent (SP) Mizanur Rahman, among others.
The double-lane bridge, built with modern steel technology on 50 pillars and 49 spans, marks Bangladesh’s promising progress. The 4.8 km double-line dual-gauge bridge connects the country’s northwestern region to Dhaka via rail.
Earlier in the morning, the formal inauguration ceremony began. The bridge was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Md. Fahimul Islam, under the chairmanship of the Director General of Bangladesh Railways, Md. Afzal Hossain.
Special guests included Mr. Saida Shinichi, the Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Mr. Ito Teruyuki, the Director General of JICA’s South Asia Division.
On November 29, 2020, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the construction of the country’s longest dual-gauge double-line railway bridge, 300 meters upstream over the Jamuna River. Five companies, including Japan’s IHI, SMCC, Obayashi Corporation, JFE, and TOA Corporation, worked in three packages to construct the bridge. After the current interim government assumed office, the name of the bridge was changed to the Jamuna Bridge in honor of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sources indicate that with the inauguration of the bridge, revolutionary changes will occur in rail communication and transport systems across the northern region of the country. In addition to improving internal rail communication, Bangladesh will be able to connect to the Trans-Asian Railway network. This will boost the economy of the northern region. Import-export costs will decrease, and the pressure on the Jamuna Bridge and highways will ease. Transportation of goods from the northern region will also become easier, which will lead to positive changes in the economic conditions and social life of the region. Previously, 38 trains operated over the Jamuna Bridge, but with the new bridge, 88 trains will run, creating connections for train travel with various countries.
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