RAJSHAHI, April 29, 2026 (BSS) - The government has approved a Tk 2,028.59 crore project to rehabilitate and maintain Bangladesh Railway's ageing and deteriorating infrastructure in the western region. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project titled "Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Western Region Railways (Phase 1)" at a meeting held on Sunday at the Secretariat in Dhaka.  The project will be fully financed by the government and implemented by Bangladesh Railway under the Ministry of Railways. According to officials, the project will run from March 2026 to February 2031 and will cover major railway corridors including Joydebpur-Ibrahimabad, Soydabad-Ishwardi Bypass, Bheramara-Ishwardi Bypass, Ishwardi-Saidpur, Santahar-Joypurhat, Birampur-Parbatipur, Abdulpur-Rajshahi Court, and Bhabaniipur-Madhapara sections. Bangladesh Railway's West Zone General Manager Farid Ahmed said around 500 kilometres of track, along with 21.492 kilometres of the Bhabaniipur-MGMC line, will be rehabilitated under the initiative.  In addition, 43.90 kilometres of railway track will undergo full reconstruction while other sections will receive major maintenance works. He said the project is necessary due to the deteriorating condition of infrastructure in the region, where nearly 25 to 30 percent of sleepers are damaged or no longer functional. A severe shortage of ballast has also affected track stability, alignment, and gauge, increasing safety risks. "The condition of the railway network is worsening due to lack of maintenance. Cracks, broken rails, and weak joints are increasing the risk of accidents," he said. Project documents show that Tk 883.72 crore (49.32 percent of total cost) will be spent on rail line construction and maintenance, while Tk 662.57 crore (36.98 percent) will be used for sleepers and fittings.  Another Tk 77.75 crore has been allocated for maintenance equipment, tamping machines, meter-gauge tools, and small transport vehicles for railway workers and materials. Western Region Chief Engineer Ahmed Hossain Masum said the project will significantly improve passenger and freight transport services once implemented. He noted that many of the lines included in the project are close to a century old and have already suffered 12 to 15 percent deterioration, which is continuing to rise. Officials said overloading beyond section capacity has accelerated damage to tracks and infrastructure, forcing speed restrictions on several routes, which in turn has affected service efficiency. Between 2009 and 2024, eight new railway lines were constructed in the region at a cost exceeding Tk 71,525 crore.  However, officials said maintenance funding has remained insufficient, with annual requirements estimated at Tk 150 to 300 crore, while allocations have often fallen short. In the current fiscal year, only Tk 65 crore has been allocated for maintenance work. They warned that without timely intervention, rail operations in several sections could face increasing disruptions.  They also noted that the upgrade is important in the context of Bangladesh's plans to expand regional rail connectivity under the Trans-Asian Railway Network, BIMSTEC, and BBIN initiatives, which will depend heavily on the western rail corridor. Once completed, the project is expected to increase operational capacity, improve safety, and enhance overall passenger and freight transport services in the western railway zone.

NAOGAON, April 29, 2026 (BSS) - Police have arrested seven members of an inter-district robbery gang while they were allegedly preparing to carry out a robbery early Wednesday.  Law enforcers also recovered country-made weapons, an unregistered truck, a motorcycle, a battery-run auto van, and several mobile phones from their possession. Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tariqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing held at Naogaon Sadar Model Police Station around 11:30 am on Wednesday. According to police, a group of 10 to 12 robbers had gathered near the Santahar-Natore road in Sadar upazila around 3:00 am, reportedly planning to intercept vehicles carrying goods.  Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid in the Sahapur area of Boalia union where seven suspects were arrested while others managed to flee. The arrested individuals have been identified as Azahar Ali, 45, Jahangir Alam, 44, Saikat, 30, Abu Hossain, 35, Hasan, 30, Roni, 32, and Hamidul Islam, 32. They hail from different upazilas of Joypurhat and Bogura districts. Police said the group is believed to be part of a criminal network involved in robbery and snatching across multiple districts, including Joypurhat and Bogura. During initial interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly admitted their involvement in planning road robberies. Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam added that the arrests would help reduce robbery incidents on highways in the region, and operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang. Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Naogaon Sadar Police Station Pradeep Banerjee and other senior police officials were present at the briefing.