Bangladesh inaugurates 4.8km-long Jamuna Railway Bridge

After years of anticipation, Bangladesh has officially inaugurated its longest rail bridge over the Jamuna River.

Around 12pm on Tuesday, Railway Secretary Md Fahimul Islam inaugurated the Jamuna Rail Bridge, a 4.8km dual-gauge structure.

The bridge, which sits 300m upstream of the existing Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge, promises to enhance connectivity between the capital, Dhaka, and the northern and western regions of the country.

It takes around three to five minutes to cross the bridge by train.

Capable of accommodating up to 88 trains moving at high speeds on a daily basis, the new bridge marks a significant upgrade from the older infrastructure, where approximately 38 trains crossed at slower speeds.

During a trial run on Feb 12, the Silk City Express from Rajshahi made history as the first passenger train to cross the bridge, reaching speeds of 120kmph.

It completed its journey across the bridge in just three and a half minutes.

Though designed as a double-track bridge, its full capacity will not be immediately available. The rail bridge is currently operating on a single track.

Its completion signals a major advancement in Bangladesh’s rail infrastructure, promising to ease transportation, boost trade, and integrate the country’s economic hubs more effectively.

The bridge, constructed at a cost of approximately Tk 167.81 billion, was largely financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which provided 72.4 percent of the funding as a loan.

Japan’s OTG and IHI led the construction, which began in March 2021 after then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone in November 2020.

Locals and passengers are happy with the inauguration of the bridge, which reduces travel times and strengthens commercial links across the country.