The Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, Fahimul Islam, has announced that in order to address the existing shortage of locomotives and coaches, Bangladesh Railway is set to procure 200 new coaches from India.
He stated that out of this total, 20 coaches will be added to the fleet within this year, while the remaining will arrive in phases.
The announcement was made on Sunday (14 September) afternoon, following his inspection of the Pakshi Divisional Railway Diesel Locomotive Running Shed in Ishwardi, Pabna.
Government’s Plans for Railway Development
Secretary Fahimul Islam further explained that the Ministry is taking a variety of measures to transform Bangladesh Railway into a profitable institution.
- The plan is not limited to improving passenger services but also aims to establish the railway as an effective medium for freight transport.
Officials Present During the Visit
| Name | Designation | Department/Division |
| Farid Ahmed | General Manager | Western Railway |
| Ahmed Masum | Chief Engineer | Western Railway |
| Liakat Sharif Khan | Divisional Railway Manager | Pakshi Division |
| Anwar Hossain | Divisional Bridge Engineer | Pakshi Division |
| Zahidul Islam | Chief Commandant | Western Railway Security Force |
Key Highlights of the Initiative
| Aspect | Details |
| Total Coaches to be Imported | 200 |
| Coaches Arriving in 2025 | 20 |
| Source Country | India |
| Purpose | To overcome shortage of locomotives and passenger coaches |
| Future Goal | To make Bangladesh Railway profitable and a major player in both passenger and freight transport |
This initiative, according to railway officials, is part of a broader vision to modernise the railway sector, enhance service quality, and strengthen its role as a reliable and profitable mode of national transportation.
