The Bogura-Sirajganj dual gauge rail construction project will be presented for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting next week, announced Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mir Shahe Alam. He shared this information during an interaction with local journalists at the Bogura Press Club on Friday afternoon.
Mentioning that the land acquisition for the project is nearly complete, Minister Shahe Alam said the project will be financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank at a cost of Tk 12,442 crore. The project is expected to be completed by June 30, 2031. Tk 2,200 crore has already been allocated for land acquisition. The international tendering process and contractor hiring will take place in November-December, after which the main project work will commence.
Earlier on June 1, the LGRD Minister revised the project to exclude the rail line from Bogura City Corporation area and instead construct a 15 km new rail line from Ranirhat Junction to Gabtoli Station, for which an additional Tk 1,500 crore was allocated. This decision sparked discussion and criticism on social media.
Regarding the Bogura-Sirajganj rail project, Minister Mir Shahe Alam said, 'After the initial decision to remove the rail line from Bogura, there has been both support and criticism. Considering both, an initiative has been taken to construct an overpass rail line in Bogura metropolitan area similar to Dhaka's metro rail, from Ranirhat to Gabtoli. This will eliminate the need for a new rail line from Ranirhat to Gabtoli. Bogura city dwellers will not be deprived of rail service. Bogura railway station will be redesigned like a metro station with two floors. The lower floor can be used as a road by the City Corporation. Feasibility studies for this initiative have already begun. Meanwhile, the main project work will continue. A meeting was held with the Railway Minister and Secretary. The matter will be finalized in a meeting with the Prime Minister next week.'
Sources say that in 2018, a project to construct an approximately 87 km dual gauge rail line from Bogura to Sirajganj was approved. This includes a 33 km loop line. The project involves constructing a 286-meter bridge over the Korotoa River, a 205-meter bridge over the Ichhamati River, 221 small and large bridges, a rail overpass over the Dhaka-Rangpur highway, a road overpass over the Bogura-Natore highway, two junctions at Sirajganj and Ranirhat, and the construction and renovation of several railway stations.
The government has taken an initiative to amend the Bogura Science and Technology University Act to establish a full-fledged university. The amended act is expected to be passed in the current session of the Jatiya Sangsad, informed Minister Mir Shahe Alam during the interaction. He said, 'To overcome the 19-year development lag and considering the importance of education, industry and communication systems, a master plan for the development of the old district of Bogura has been adopted.'
Minister Mir Shahe Alam said, 'The activities of a science and technology university have started in Bogura. However, the scope of education at the science and technology university is limited. Therefore, the Prime Minister has already issued instructions to amend the Bogura Science and Technology University Act to establish a full-fledged university. She has also formed a committee under my leadership. After several meetings of the committee, the Ministry of Education has taken the initiative to amend the Bogura Science and Technology University Act and finalize the Bogura University Act. It will be presented to the cabinet for approval next week.'
The Minister further said that as per the Prime Minister's instructions, Bogura University will have faculties of science, arts, social sciences, commerce, medicine, engineering, agriculture, etc., along with PhD degrees and research facilities for domestic and foreign researchers. The Prime Minister wants the Bogura University campus to be located in a natural environment outside the metropolis.
During the interaction, Minister Mir Shahe Alam announced on behalf of Prime Minister Tareq Rahman that Tk 1 crore will be donated for the development of Bogura Press Club. This amount will be spent through the Engineering Department of the City Corporation.
The meeting was chaired by Bogura Press Club President Rezaul Hasan and conducted by General Secretary Kalam Azad. The special guest was Bogura City Corporation Administrator MR Islam Swadhin.
