“We’re considering expanding the Cox’s Bazar-Ghumdhum-Myanmar railway project to China, Malaysia and Thailand in the future,” he said while exchanging views with high officials at the Railway East Zone headquarters.

Mentioning that primary work on the feasibility study on a ‘high-speed train’ service on the Dhaka-Chattogram railway route has already completed, the minister said people can travel from the port city to Dhaka within 69 minutes with a short break while within 59 minutes without any break.

“Work on the feasibility study on the high-speed train service from Dhaka to Chattogram has started. The primary study report has reached me. This train will reach Chattogram from Dhaka via Narayanganj, Cumilla and Feni,” he said, adding that a special rail line will be set up for this.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a number of plans that will be implemented till 2030 to bring back the tradition of railway, Sujan said. “That’s why the internal railway communication system is being strengthened.” 

He also said work is on to revive the rail routes with India that were closed after the India-Pakistan war.

Replying to a query about the construction of a bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Boalkhali-Kalurghat, the minister said the proposal got stuck following a technical problem.

He, however, said the problem will be resolved soon. “We’ll place it before the Prime Minister when she visits the Railway Ministry and work as per her directives.”