A Correspondent, Bogura:

The much-anticipated Bogura-Sirajganj railway project has been moving at a sluggish pace, primarily due to delays in land acquisition.

Residents of northern Bangladesh, who are expected to benefit immensely from the project as the establishment of a direct rail line between Sirajganj and Bogura will shorten the travel distance by 112 kilometres and time by three hours, are growing increasingly concerned as the original deadline for the project has passed without significant progress.

With an estimated budget of Tk5,579.7 crore, the project, being implemented under the Indian Line of Credit (LoC), was initially scheduled for completion by 30 June 2023. However, after Indian authorities appointed consultants on 27 September 2021, the final design was only approved on 30 June 2023, further delaying the start of construction.

The project was first proposed in 2005, with a feasibility study conducted by the Asian Development Bank. It received final approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council meeting on 30 October 2018. The project is being funded by Bangladesh and loans from India.

Despite the appointment of two consulting firms – Rights Limited and RV Associates Architects Engineering and Consultant Private Limited – for different segments of the project, progress has been hampered by complications surrounding land acquisition in Bogura and Sirajganj. However, land acquisition has recently begun, with the Bogura Deputy Commissioner’s office issuing section notices to landowners.

Monirul Islam Firozi, the project director (PD), expressed optimism about the project’s future, saying, “We expect to start construction soon after the land acquisition is complete. We aim to finish the work by 2026.”

He also said that significant progress has already been made in the land acquisition process.

Once completed, the Bogura-Sirajganj railway will offer substantial benefits to the northern region. “The new railway will reduce the distance between Dhaka and Bogura by approximately 112 kilometres, saving passengers three to four hours per trip and reducing annual fuel costs by Tk43.3 million,” Firozi added.

The railway will also play a key role in boosting the northern economy by improving connectivity and facilitating business activities.

“This project will open up new economic opportunities for the region,” Firozi said, highlighting the importance of Bogura as an industrial hub in northern Bangladesh.

The railway will require 960 acres of land, with 479.15 acres in Bogura and 460 acres in Sirajganj. However, the compensation for the acquired land has not yet been distributed to landowners.

NINE NEW RAILWAY STATIONS PLANNED

The project includes the construction of nine new railway stations – Shaheed M Monsur Ali,

Raipur, Nalka Krisnadia, Raiganj, Chandaikona, Chhonka, Sherpur, Ariabazar, and Ranirhat stations. These stations will enhance connectivity and contribute to regional development.

For decades, residents of Bogura and surrounding districts have called for a direct railway connection to Sirajganj to reduce travel time and costs. Currently, passengers travelling to Dhaka from Bogura must take a longer route through Santahar, Natore, and Pabna’s Ishwardi.

Land acquisition officer Md Abdul Wazed confirmed that the acquisition process is nearing completion, while Bogura Deputy Commissioner Hosna Afroza has pledged to expedite the project.

“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the timely construction of the railway,” she said.

With the land acquisition phase nearing its conclusion, residents are hopeful that the long-awaited Bogura-Sirajganj railway will soon become a reality, bringing new economic opportunities to the northern region of Bangladesh.