Critical Rail Link Reopens After Five-Day Flood Battle in Bangladesh
Train services on the important Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route have resumed today, Sunday, after being suspended for five difficult days. Torrential rainfall and flash floods, caused by water flowing from hills, had brought the railway line to a halt. The first train, the Parjotak Express from Dhaka, left Chattogram Railway Station for Cox’s Bazar shortly after 1:30 pm.
Heavy rains began in Chattogram on July 4, worsening last Tuesday. This caused parts of the railway line to disappear under water. Between the Sunnia Madrasah and Shamsher Para areas, the tracks were submerged by up to two feet of water. As a result, train journeys between Cox’s Bazar and both Dhaka and Chattogram were stopped from Tuesday afternoon. Passengers faced considerable inconvenience, as the route typically serves between 8,000 and 9,000 people daily.
Even as heavy rainfall continued this morning, Bangladesh Railway officials pushed ahead with preparations to restart services. Md. Shuboktagin, General Manager of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, inspected Sholoshahar Railway Station at midday. He stated that Chattogram had seen record-breaking rainfall, leading to the tracks flooding despite recent drainage improvements.
The government paid close attention to the situation. On Wednesday, Habibur Rashid, the State Minister for Railways, visited the damaged sections of the track. Following instructions from senior authorities, railway workers acted quickly. They raised several parts of the line by about one foot using ballast stones.
Intensive repair work went on throughout Saturday. These efforts allowed the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar railway line to become operational again. Farhan Mahmud, a transport officer for Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, confirmed that the line is now safe for trains. Earlier, a stranded train, the Prabal Express, was safely brought back to Chattogram Railway Station. The reopening brings much-needed relief to thousands of travellers who rely on this vital connection.
