Online Desk: Railway Minister Zillul Hakim said on Wednesday that traffic on the old Kalurghat Rail Bridge in Chattogram will start in mid-March. The bridge is being repaired for this purpose.

“It will take four to five years to construct the new Kalurghat Bridge,” he said.

“The financing is being negotiated with Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund. We hope the Kalurghat Bridge will be constructed in 4-5 years,” he added.

He said this in response to questions from reporters after a meeting with top railway officials at the rest house of the Railway East Zone on Wednesday.

“Once such a situation was created that the railway was on the verge of closing down. The railway tracks were uprooted. Trains were set on fire,” he said.

He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to revitalise the railway despite such challenges.

“She is working on connecting every district in Bangladesh through the railway network. The goal is to transport the produce of rural farmers by train to the cities, so that farmers in remote areas can sell their fruits, vegetables, and crops at fair prices,” he said.

“We will try to revive the railway. Train services have been halted in many places. There are plans to normalise them,” he said.

The minister also said that a commuter train will be launched on the Cox’s Bazar route within the next two months.

“Our biggest problem is the loco master problem. Once the loco master is appointed, we will start some more trains on this route very soon,” he said.

He said that he wants to revitalise the railway system.

“Already, over 5,000 people have been employed to renovate the railway, and they are being trained to enhance their skills. Several new engines and coaches have been imported, and more are on the way. When these engines are added to the railway, it will help overcome the engine-related issues on the tracks,” said the minister.