European Investment Bank to Finance 200 Indian Broad-Gauge Coaches for Bangladesh
Dhaka, April 10, 2026 — In a significant move to modernize its transport infrastructure and strengthen bilateral ties, Bangladesh is set to import 200 broad-gauge (BG) railway coaches from India.
The announcement was made by Bangladesh Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam during a recent parliamentary question-and-answer session, where he was responding to inquiries from Jamaat MPs Ilyas Molla and Ruhul Amin.
Delivery Timeline and Financing
According to the minister, the procurement of these new coaches will be financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) starting this year. The 200 Indian-manufactured broad-gauge coaches are scheduled to be inducted into the Bangladesh Railway fleet in phases between June 2026 and December 2027.
New train routes and schedules will be determined once the coaches are fully received.
Enhancing Northern Connectivity
The induction of these coaches is expected to significantly boost passenger comfort and improve the overall revenue of the railway network through enhanced services.
A major focus will be on the northern districts. Currently, 15 intercity trains connect the capital city of Dhaka with the northern regions. Minister Alam confirmed that the number of intercity trains operating on this crucial route will be increased once the new coaches arrive from India.
Future Expansion Plans
This import is part of a much larger modernization and expansion drive currently being undertaken by Bangladesh Railway to develop new broad-gauge and dual-gauge tracks.
At present, Bangladesh operates a total railway network spanning 3,428.09 kilometers. This network consists of 1,591.43 km of metre-gauge lines, 1,066.60 km of broad-gauge lines, and 770.06 km of dual-gauge tracks.
Looking ahead, the minister also outlined future procurement plans, stating that Bangladesh Railway intends to acquire an additional 260 broad-gauge passenger coaches, 46 broad-gauge locomotives, and 50 metre-gauge locomotives in the near future to further upgrade the country’s rail infrastructure.
