Bangladesh Railway is finalizing plans to extend the Dhaka-Chattogram 'Mahanagar Express' to Cox’s Bazar by the first week of October, pending Ministry approval.
This extension will offer direct rail travel to the coastal city from Narsingdi, Bhairab, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla and Feni, eliminating the need for passengers to switch transport in Chattogram. According to the proposed schedule the train will depart Dhaka’s Kamalapur Station at 8:30 PM arriving in Cox’s Bazar at 6:00 AM after a 9.5-hour journey. The return trip will depart at 9:00 AM.
Chief Commercial Manager (East) Sujit Biswas stated the move aims to meet soaring passenger demand on the Cox's Bazar route and boost government revenue.
However, this expansion brings underlying operational challenges to the forefront. Despite the addition of new routes, passengers remain frustrated by existing service quality. Currently the four trains on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route operate using a single rake also leading to frequent schedule disruptions and operational bottlenecks.
Travelers have also heavily criticized the use of aging coaches, pointing out a severe lack of air-conditioned compartments and adequate cabin facilities. Railway officials acknowledged these limitations but confirmed there is no immediate solution with replacing the outdated coaches will only be possible once new imports arrive in the future.
Local residents and tourism stakeholders welcome the enhanced connectivity, noting that the railway serves not only tourists but also everyday commuters traveling for business, healthcare and education. Nonetheless, they urge railway authorities to prioritize punctuality, passenger comfort and reliable ticketing rather than simply increasing the number of trains on paper.
