STORY: Bangladesh's largest railway officially opens across its entire line to traffic
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 24, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:26
LOCATION: Dhaka
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the train arriving at Dhaka station
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): SUMI AKHTAR, Passenger
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): SHAMIM ARA TANIA, Passenger
4. various of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): ISHTIAQ AHMED, Train conductor
6. various of the Dhaka station
7. various of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project

STORYLINE:

Bangladesh's largest railway Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) officially opened across its entire line to traffic on Tuesday.

The PBRLP was built by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China.

The railway, known locally as the "Dream Road," stretches approximately 170 km. 

Following its opening, travel time between the capital Dhaka and the southwestern city of Jashore will be reduced from the original 10 hours to just three hours.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): SUMI AKHTAR, Passenger
"I'm excited to take the Jehanabad Express (Dhaka-Khulna route) via the Padma Bridge for the first time, as it now takes much less time than before. The journey used to be significantly longer."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): SHAMIM ARA TANIA, Passenger
"The long-standing desire of the residents of Jashore and Khulna has been to travel quickly. I've eagerly awaited this train since the Padma Bridge was built, and today, our dream has become a reality. As the communication system improves, the opportunities for the country's development grow. In this sense, I believe this is a significant milestone."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): ISHTIAQ AHMED, Train conductor
"This feeling is beyond words. It's an impossibly beautiful sensation. The railway in Bangladesh is progressing beautifully and will continue to move forward with the Chinese support."

The rail link, which started construction in July 2018, has passed through the Padma Bridge, the largest of its kind in Bangladesh.

Padma Bridge was undertaken by China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Co, Ltd. and opened to the public in June 2022.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dhaka.
(XHTV)