Bangladesh’s largest railway bridge, the much-anticipated Jamuna Rail Bridge, was officially inaugurated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the country's rail connectivity. With this launch, trains will now travel at speeds of 120 km/h, significantly improving travel between Dhaka and the northwestern region, said Project Director Al Fattah Masudur Rahman.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Ibrahimabad Railway Station on the eastern bank of the bridge, with Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam attending as the chief guest. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and JICA South Asia Director General were present as special guests.
A game-changer for rail connectivity
With the bridge now fully operational, travel time for passengers and freight transport will be significantly reduced, fulfilling a long-standing goal of enhanced connectivity and economic development for the northwest.
Previously, the Jamuna River had isolated Sirajganj and the northern districts, slowing development. The construction of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in 1998 introduced rail and road links, but by 2008, structural cracks restricted train speeds to just 20 km/h. Since then, approximately 38 trains crossed the bridge daily at reduced speeds, limiting efficiency.
To resolve these challenges, authorities launched the construction of a dedicated railway bridge 300 metres upstream of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge on March 3, 2020. The foundation stone was laid on November 29, 2020, and piling for the first pillar began in March 2021.
A massive infrastructure project
Spanning 4.8 km with 50 pillars and 49 spans, the Jamuna Rail Bridge extends over 30.73 km, including embankments and loops. Initially budgeted at Tk 9,734.07 crore, the project's cost later rose to Tk 16,780.96 crore, with 72.40% funded by a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan and the remainder covered domestically.
Japanese consortium OTG and IHI Joint Venture led the construction, with support from five major Japanese contractors. Over four years, more than 7,000 workers from Japan, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh contributed to the project’s completion.
Faster and more efficient rail transport
On February 12, passenger train operations began when the Silk City Express crossed the bridge from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 50 km/h in just six minutes. From Tuesday, trains will run at full speed, reaching 120 km/h in both directions.
Chief Engineer Tanvirul Islam highlighted that advanced Japanese technology ensures safe, high-speed operations. Project Director Al Fattah Masudur Rahman added that the old bridge had weight limitations, restricting freight transport to meter-gauge trains. The new bridge, however, will accommodate broad-gauge freight trains, benefiting businesses importing goods from India and eliminating reliance on slower sea routes. Freight trains of all kinds can now operate without restrictions, although the bridge does not feature a double-E track system, meaning two trains cannot run simultaneously.
A controversial name change
Initially named the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge, the structure was officially renamed the Jamuna Rail Bridge after Sheikh Hasina’s government fell. A gazette notification issued by the interim government in December confirmed the change.
With its inauguration, the Jamuna Rail Bridge is set to transform trade logistics, boost regional economic growth, and significantly enhance railway efficiency across Bangladesh.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
