Bangladesh Railway to receive 20 engines worth over Tk 15b as grant from China

Bangladesh Railway is set to receive 20 metre-gauge engines from China as a grant worth over 15 billion taka.

This donation will cover the cost of the engines, spare parts, and maintenance for five years.

The initiative was confirmed following discussions during Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s visit to China earlier this year.

Currently, Bangladesh faces a severe shortage of metre-gauge engines, leading to frequent cancellations of passenger and freight trains.

Normally, procuring new engines through the tender process takes two to three years, but since these engines are donated, delivery is expected within one to one-and-a-half years.

The Ministry of Railways estimated the total cost for 20 engines at 16.35 billion taka, including parts and maintenance, with China covering 15.91 billion taka of this amount.

Previously, India donated 30 broad-gauge diesel engines to Bangladesh between 2020 and 2023, as India shifts towards electric trains and no longer needs many diesel engines.

Before this, Bangladesh Railway operated engines supplied by nine countries, including the United States, Germany, Korea, and India.

The arrival of these Chinese engines will make China the tenth country providing engines to Bangladesh Railway.

This grant is expected to alleviate the engine shortage and improve the reliability of rail services across the country.