STORY: Mega BRI railway in Bangladesh enters final phase of construction
DATELINE: June 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:16
LOCATION: FARIDPUR, Bangladesh
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the construction site
2. SOUNDBITE (English): NURUL ISLAM SUJAN, Bangladeshi Railway Minister
3. various of the construction site

STORYLINE:

A major railway project under the Belt and Road Initiative has entered the final phase of construction in Bangladesh.

The Padma Bridge Railway Link Project is being implemented in three sections. A track-laying ceremony was held for the last section of the project from Bhanga to Jessore on Saturday.

SOUNDBITE (English): NURUL ISLAM SUJAN, Bangladeshi Railway Minister
"This project is very important for the Bangladesh railway and the rail track starts from Dhaka to Jessore, 172 kilometers. And the duration of the project is estimated to be completed by next year. We hope that in time, that is next year, June, the whole project will be completed and now we are laying down the track starting from Bhanga to Jessore. The Chinese company CREC is a very reputed company and their work is very much satisfactory."

When completed, the rail link will connect the capital Dhaka with more than 20 districts in the south of the country, and cut the travel time from Dhaka to Jessore from ten hours to two hours.

It will also be a vital channel that connects the trans-Asian railway network, boosting regional connectivity and economic development.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Faridpur, Bangladesh.
(XHTV)