Bangla Press Desk: Bangladesh Railway has introduced a new train service connecting Dhaka to the tourist city of Cox's Bazar. The route of the intercity 'Mahanagar Express'—which previously operated between Dhaka and Chittagong—has now been extended to Cox's Bazar.
With this addition, the total number of train services on the Dhaka–Cox's Bazar route has increased to three pairs. This new service will allow approximately 1,500 additional passengers to travel by rail daily.
On Monday (October 26), the extended service of the Mahanagar Express was inaugurated at Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital by Sheikh Rabiul Alam, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping, and Railways.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways; Md. Fahimul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways; Md. Afzal Hossain, Director General of Bangladesh Railway; and other relevant officials.
Previously, two pairs of trains—the 'Cox's Bazar Express' and the 'Paryatak Express'—operated on the Dhaka–Cox's Bazar route. The inclusion of the Mahanagar Express brings the total to three pairs.
This new service provides passengers in intermediate areas—including Narsingdi, Bhairab, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, and Feni—with the opportunity to travel directly to Cox's Bazar. Previously, passengers from these locations did not have the option to board the direct Cox's Bazar-bound trains (Cox's Bazar Express and Paryatak Express) departing from Dhaka.
**Schedule of the Mahanagar Express**
According to the new schedule from Bangladesh Railway, the Mahanagar Express will depart from Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka daily at 8:30 PM, arriving in Cox's Bazar at 6:00 AM the following morning.
En route, the train will reach Chittagong Station at 2:40 AM and depart for Cox's Bazar again at 3:00 AM.
On the return journey, the Mahanagar Express will depart from Cox's Bazar daily at 9:00 AM and arrive at Kamalapur Railway Station at 6:30 PM. The scheduled travel time for both directions is 9 hours and 30 minutes.
The train remains out of service on Sundays. **Stations of Call**
On its journey from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar, the Mahanagar Express will stop at the following stations: Airport, Narsingdi, Bhairab Bazar, Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria, Akhaura, Kasba, Cumilla, Laksam, Nangalkot, Feni, and Chattogram. Including the terminal stations at both ends, the train will make a total of 14 stops.
With the introduction of this new route, the stop at Kumira station (Sitakunda) has been discontinued. The train will cover a distance of 467.83 kilometers, traveling from Dhaka through Chattogram to reach Cox’s Bazar.
**Fare Structure**
According to Bangladesh Railway, the Mahanagar Express has a seating capacity of 736 and 706 (depending on the specific rake configuration). The existing fare structure will remain applicable to this new route.
Fares for a 'Shobhon Chair' (standard chair class) from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar start at 685 Taka, while the maximum fare for an AC-class seat is 1,570 Taka. Passengers can purchase tickets through the Bangladesh Railway online ticketing system or at railway station counters.
Maintenance of the train rakes, water supply, and cleaning services will be handled in Cox’s Bazar.
The Railway authorities stated that the decision to extend the route of the Mahanagar Express was made in response to the demand for rail travel to the tourist city of Cox’s Bazar. This initiative aligns with the government’s election manifesto, which includes a commitment to expand intercity rail services. This expansion will not only increase passenger transport capacity on the Dhaka–Chattogram route but also provide passengers in the areas between Dhaka and Chattogram with the opportunity to travel directly to Cox’s Bazar.
BP/TD
