BS News Agency from Dhaka: For the first time since the fall of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, train coaches are coming to Bangladesh from India. These coaches are scheduled to arrive next month. This information was reported by the Economic Times on Wednesday (June 24). Officials of the Indian Railways' export department told the Economic Times that 20 broad gauge passenger train coaches are ready for export in July.
Bangladesh had signed a contract to buy 200 broad gauge coaches from India for Rs 915 crore. 20 coaches will be sent as part of that contract.
The purchase of these coaches is being financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). India won the contract to build these coaches through an international auction in May 2024. A senior Indian Railways official said, "The first rake of this contract will be ready by July. Preparations are underway to hand over the coaches to Bangladesh."
The coaches are being manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab, India.
The Economic Times said that after the political change in Bangladesh in 2024, there was uncertainty in India's exports. But with the arrival of 20 new coaches, India's bogie exports to Bangladesh will resume. After the fall of the autocratic Sheikh Hasina in 2024, the work on this project slowed down, said the concerned officials of the Indian Railways. But now the work is going on as per the pre-scheduled schedule.
Meanwhile, before getting the work of these 200 coaches, India had sent 120 broad gauge coaches, 25 broad gauge locomotives (engines) and 10 meter gauge locomotives to Bangladesh. These were part of the cooperation in strengthening communication and transport infrastructure between the two countries.
According to the latest agreement, India will provide design support, spare parts, training and help in starting their operation in Bangladesh, in addition to supplying coaches.