The government has launched an ambitious plan to establish railway connectivity to all economic zones (EZs) across Bangladesh, beginning with the National Special Economic Zone in Chattogram’s Mirsarai, in a bid to make goods transport faster, cheaper, and more efficient.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways, Sheikh Moinuddin said an integrated master plan is being developed to connect every economic zone in the country with railway lines, reports UNB.
“Our focus right now is on Mirsarai. The objective is to enable direct rail access to all economic zones so that containers and goods can be transported seamlessly,” he said. “At present, goods are carried by trucks before being loaded onto trains.
“With direct railway links, transportation will be quicker, less costly, and more productive for industries.”
Officials said the plan will integrate rail, road, and port networks to ensure smooth connectivity for industrial hubs nationwide. “This will add a new dimension to Bangladesh’s logistics and transport system,” Moinuddin added.
Once implemented, the initiative is expected to accelerate industrialisation, expand exports, and strengthen the overall supply chain.
Bangladesh has been developing economic zones to drive investment, industrial growth, and employment generation. The previous government had set a goal to establish 100 economic zones by 2025.
The current administration, however, is focusing on ensuring that five major zones become fully operational to guarantee efficiency and tangible progress.
According to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), a two-year roadmap has already been prepared to make these zones fully functional.
BEZA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun earlier announced that the five targeted zones are projected to attract around USD 5.5 billion in investments and create over 200,000 jobs.
The five priority zones are National Special Economic Zone in Chattogram’s Mirsarai, Sylhet, Jamalpur, Maheshkhali and Japanese.
Among them, Mirsarai zone is the largest in the public sector, covering around 30,000 acres across Mirsarai, Sonagazi, and Sitakunda upazilas.
Designed as a planned, modern industrial hub, it is expected to become a cornerstone of manufacturing and export landscape.
Experts believe that direct rail connectivity to Mirsarai will be vital for ensuring the uninterrupted movement of raw materials and finished products to ports and domestic markets.
The improved logistics infrastructure will make the zone even more attractive to both local and foreign investors, strengthening Bangladesh’s position as a competitive industrial destination in South Asia.
