Bangladesh: Strengthening Railway Logistics and Connectivity Tender

• Country: Bangladesh
• Summary: Bangladesh: Strengthening Railway Logistics and Connectivity for Ports, Inland, and the Region
• BDT Ref No: 140641574
• Deadline: 13 May 2026
• Financier: World Bank (WB)
• Purchaser Ownership: Government
• Tender Value: Refer Document
• Notice Type: Tender
• Document Ref. No.: 0002021933
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• Description:
• Bangladesh Railway (BR), under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), is the state-owned national railway, operating a network of approximately 3,000 kilometers and providing both passenger and freight services. While BR-s freight operations are significantly more profitable than its passenger services—accounting for one-third of total revenue and delivering much higher margins—the overall system remains heavily oriented toward passenger transport. Despite the strategic importance of rail freight, BR-s share of the national freight market has stagnated at around 4%, far below regional and international standards. This limited modal share is largely due to persistent challenges in freight operations and infrastructure, resulting in a heavy reliance on road transport. Consequently, logistics costs in Bangladesh remain high compared to neighboring countries, and the economy misses out on substantial development opportunities.A major obstacle to efficient freight operations is the acute shortage of operational locomotives. Of BR-s total fleet of 281 locomotives, more than 90 are inactive and aging, frequently suffering mechanical failures. This shortage has led to a sharp decline in container train services from Chattogram Port, dropping from 120 monthly trains in previous years to just 50-60. Overall annual freight train services have also decreased significantly, from 4,273 in FY2021-22 to 3,387 in FY2022-23, with only 2,285 services operating in the eleven months leading up to November 2025. As a result, industries face delays and increased costs, prompting a shift to road transport.Another key constraint is the limited rail connectivity with other transit modes, particularly for containers. Currently, the railway connects only to Chattogram Port at the Chattogram Goods Port Yard (CGPY) and to Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka. The restricted cargo handling capacity at Kamalapur ICD leads to long container waiting times at CGPY, further exacerbating operationa...
• Documents:

 Tender Notice