A severe shortage of locomotives in Bangladesh Railway has brought container transport from Chattogram Port to Dhaka nearly to a standstill, leaving over 1,200 TEUs stranded in port yards.
According to an internal railway report dated 17 August, only two locomotives were available out of the 13 required to operate container and oil rakes on the Chattogram–Dhaka line. Of these, one was assigned to a container train and the other to a special army service, leaving none for at least eight fully loaded rakes waiting at the port and nearby stations. Some of these rakes have been stuck since 10 August.
Railway and port sources say the Chattogram Port requires at least six container trains daily—three each way between Chattogram and Dhaka—to maintain smooth import and export flows. Currently, only four trains are operating, two in each direction. The shortage has also disrupted oil tank wagons and general cargo rakes, with multiple cancellations reported, including two container trains on 20 August, worsening port congestion and delaying shipments to Kamalapur ICD.
🚨Port Expansions Undermined by Rail Shortage
The crisis comes despite significant upgrades at Chattogram Port, where yard capacity has risen from 53,518 TEUs to nearly 59,000 TEUs. CPA Secretary Omar Faruk said vessel handling has improved, with daily ship handling rising from 10 to 12–13 ships and turnaround time dropping to 2.58 days. Ongoing yard construction is expected to increase capacity further to 62,000 TEUs by year-end.
However, without adequate locomotives, these gains risk being negated. Around 12,000 containers are currently idle inside the port 10,000 marked for auction and 2,000 awaiting transport to Dhaka ICDs well above normal levels for Bangladesh’s busiest seaport.
🚨Exporters and Importers Sound Alarm
Exporters fear missed deadlines and potential order cancellations. “A delay of even a few days can lead to cancelled orders,” said Belayet Hossain, an RMG exporter. Importers also face higher costs as containers sit idle longer. “Every extra day adds extra costs,” said Shahidul Islam, an importer of industrial raw materials.
Industry experts stress that deploying additional locomotives on a priority basis is the immediate solution, while long-term measures require expanding the railway fleet and improving maintenance to support Chattogram Port, which handles over 90% of the country’s external trade.
Railway officials acknowledge the shortage reflects years of underinvestment. Engines are frequently out of service for repairs, leaving insufficient capacity on the Chattogram–Dhaka corridor. Muhammad Subaktagin, general manager of Bangladesh Railway East Zone, said two more engines will be added this week, with additional new engines expected by year-end.
***Summary***
A severe shortage of locomotives in Bangladesh Railway has brought container transport from Chattogram Port to Dhaka nearly to a standstill, leaving over 1,200 TEUs stranded in port yards.
📌 Locomotive crisis
Only 2 locomotives available out of 13 needed on the Chattogram–Dhaka line (17 August internal report)
One engine assigned to a container train, the other to a special army service
At least 8 fully loaded rakes waiting, some stuck since 10 August
📌 Port congestion
Over 1,234 TEUs stranded in port yards
Only 4 trains running instead of the required 6 daily
Oil tank wagons and general cargo rakes also disrupted
Cancellations on 20 August worsened congestion, delaying shipments to Kamalapur ICD
📌 Port upgrades vs rail shortage
Chattogram Port yard capacity increased from 53,518 TEUs → nearly 59,000 TEUs
Vessel handling improved: daily ships handled: 10 → 12–13, turnaround time dropped to 2.58 days
Ongoing yard construction expected to reach 62,000 TEUs capacity by year-end
Despite upgrades, 12,000 containers idle: 10,000 for auction, 2,000 awaiting Dhaka transport
📌 Impact on exporters & importers
Exporters risk missed deadlines and order cancellations
Importers face higher costs due to idle containers
Industry experts call for priority deployment of locomotives
Long-term solution: expand fleet and improve maintenance to support Chattogram Port
📌 Railway response
Officials acknowledge long-standing underinvestment
Engines frequently out of service for repairs, reducing capacity
2 more engines arriving this week, more by year-end
Source: TBS News
According to an internal railway report dated 17 August, only two locomotives were available out of the 13 required to operate container and oil rakes on the Chattogram–Dhaka line. Of these, one was assigned to a container train and the other to a special army service, leaving none for at least eight fully loaded rakes waiting at the port and nearby stations. Some of these rakes have been stuck since 10 August.
Railway and port sources say the Chattogram Port requires at least six container trains daily—three each way between Chattogram and Dhaka—to maintain smooth import and export flows. Currently, only four trains are operating, two in each direction. The shortage has also disrupted oil tank wagons and general cargo rakes, with multiple cancellations reported, including two container trains on 20 August, worsening port congestion and delaying shipments to Kamalapur ICD.
🚨Port Expansions Undermined by Rail Shortage
The crisis comes despite significant upgrades at Chattogram Port, where yard capacity has risen from 53,518 TEUs to nearly 59,000 TEUs. CPA Secretary Omar Faruk said vessel handling has improved, with daily ship handling rising from 10 to 12–13 ships and turnaround time dropping to 2.58 days. Ongoing yard construction is expected to increase capacity further to 62,000 TEUs by year-end.
However, without adequate locomotives, these gains risk being negated. Around 12,000 containers are currently idle inside the port 10,000 marked for auction and 2,000 awaiting transport to Dhaka ICDs well above normal levels for Bangladesh’s busiest seaport.
🚨Exporters and Importers Sound Alarm
Exporters fear missed deadlines and potential order cancellations. “A delay of even a few days can lead to cancelled orders,” said Belayet Hossain, an RMG exporter. Importers also face higher costs as containers sit idle longer. “Every extra day adds extra costs,” said Shahidul Islam, an importer of industrial raw materials.
Industry experts stress that deploying additional locomotives on a priority basis is the immediate solution, while long-term measures require expanding the railway fleet and improving maintenance to support Chattogram Port, which handles over 90% of the country’s external trade.
Railway officials acknowledge the shortage reflects years of underinvestment. Engines are frequently out of service for repairs, leaving insufficient capacity on the Chattogram–Dhaka corridor. Muhammad Subaktagin, general manager of Bangladesh Railway East Zone, said two more engines will be added this week, with additional new engines expected by year-end.
***Summary***
A severe shortage of locomotives in Bangladesh Railway has brought container transport from Chattogram Port to Dhaka nearly to a standstill, leaving over 1,200 TEUs stranded in port yards.
📌 Locomotive crisis
Only 2 locomotives available out of 13 needed on the Chattogram–Dhaka line (17 August internal report)
One engine assigned to a container train, the other to a special army service
At least 8 fully loaded rakes waiting, some stuck since 10 August
📌 Port congestion
Over 1,234 TEUs stranded in port yards
Only 4 trains running instead of the required 6 daily
Oil tank wagons and general cargo rakes also disrupted
Cancellations on 20 August worsened congestion, delaying shipments to Kamalapur ICD
📌 Port upgrades vs rail shortage
Chattogram Port yard capacity increased from 53,518 TEUs → nearly 59,000 TEUs
Vessel handling improved: daily ships handled: 10 → 12–13, turnaround time dropped to 2.58 days
Ongoing yard construction expected to reach 62,000 TEUs capacity by year-end
Despite upgrades, 12,000 containers idle: 10,000 for auction, 2,000 awaiting Dhaka transport
📌 Impact on exporters & importers
Exporters risk missed deadlines and order cancellations
Importers face higher costs due to idle containers
Industry experts call for priority deployment of locomotives
Long-term solution: expand fleet and improve maintenance to support Chattogram Port
📌 Railway response
Officials acknowledge long-standing underinvestment
Engines frequently out of service for repairs, reducing capacity
2 more engines arriving this week, more by year-end
Source: TBS News