THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed loan agreements with the Bangladeshi government to provide $US 688m to upgrade the 35km Dhaka - Chattogram - Cox’s Bazar line.
According to local news outlet The Financial Express, ADB says the loans are dedicated to establishing seamless connectivity along the line in southeastern Bangladesh, significantly boosting regional transport efficiency and economic growth.
The agreements were signed at a ceremony in Dhaka by Bangladesh's secretary of the economic relations division (ERD), Shahriar Kader Siddiky, and ADB country director for Bangladesh, Hoe Yun Jeong.
"The project will enhance the resilience, reliability, and efficiency of rail services, facilitating a crucial shift from road to rail transport," says Jeong.
As a key part of the Trans-Asia Railway network, ADB notes that the Dhaka - Chattogram - Cox's Bazar line currently has a 32% share of passenger traffic in that corridor and 55% of freight, underscoring the importance of enhanced rail infrastructure for economic integration, optimising logistics, and driving development in Bangladesh's southeastern region and beyond.
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