Dhaka, Aug 2026 : India has resumed the supply of passenger coaches to Bangladesh after a gap of nearly a decade, with the first consignment of 19 new-generation broad-gauge coaches reaching the country through the Darshana border, according to local media reports.
The coaches have been manufactured by India’s Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab, and constitute the first delivery under Bangladesh Railway’s major procurement programme for 200 modern broad-gauge passenger coaches.
The arrival of the new coaches is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s passenger rail services, particularly in the southwestern region, where rail connectivity has expanded following the commissioning of the Padma Rail Bridge. The new rolling stock is expected to improve service reliability, passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
According to Bangladesh newspaper Daily Sun, the 19 coaches form the first shipment under a procurement initiative launched in 2022. The overall project has an estimated cost of Tk 1,704.66 crore, with approximately Tk 1,331 crore expected to be financed through a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Bangladesh Railway and India’s state-owned RITES Limited signed an agreement in Dhaka for the procurement of 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches. The contract, valued at around Tk 1,205.54 crore, is being financed jointly by the Bangladesh government and the EIB.
Under the agreement, RITES is responsible not only for supplying the coaches but also for providing technical assistance covering design-related matters, spare parts and training. The contract provides 36 months for the supply and commissioning of the coaches, followed by a 24-month warranty period.
However, the procurement process experienced significant delays after the project was approved. More than two years elapsed between the project’s approval in March 2022 and the signing of the contract in May 2024.
The first batch manufactured at RCF Kapurthala comprises a mix of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches. The consignment includes three AC sleeper coaches, three AC chair cars, 11 non-AC chair cars and two power cars.
The latest shipment marks the return of Indian passenger coach supplies to Bangladesh after nearly 10 years. India had previously supplied 120 passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway during 2015-16.
The procurement comes at a time when Bangladesh Railway has been seeking to modernise an ageing passenger coach fleet. A significant portion of its existing rolling stock has been in service for several years, creating challenges related to passenger comfort, maintenance and operational efficiency.
The acquisition of 200 new coaches is therefore aimed at replacing older equipment and improving the quality of passenger services. It is also expected to support growing rail connectivity in Bangladesh’s southwestern region, particularly after the opening of the Padma Bridge rail link.
The resumption of Indian coach supplies highlights the continuing role of Indian railway manufacturing companies in supporting Bangladesh’s transport infrastructure. With the delivery programme now underway, the remaining coaches are expected to be supplied in phases under the terms of the agreement.
