The Government of Bangladesh's Planning Commission is finalizing a multimodal transport roadmap that reduces the country's logistics strategy from road dependency. Currently, roads handle 80% of national transport demand. The aim is to move toward a more balanced rail, waterway, and port network to reduce logistics costs, improve safety, and build regional connectivity, including potential transit links with Nepal, Bhutan, and India's northeastern region.

Proposed and/or planned reforms include the following:

Rail

• Install electric traction on the Dhaka-Chattogram corridor and Narayanganj-Dhaka and Dhaka-Joydebpur commuter routes
• Develop the Dhaka-Laksam/Comilla chord line
• Raise rail's freight modal share from under 5% to at least 20%
• Expand container train operations through procurement of locomotives, coaches, and wagons
• Assess how much container traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar-Matarbari corridor can shift to rail
• Expedite decisions on railway projects under India's Line of Credit

Inland Waterways

• Develop three major inland water hubs: Ashuganj River Port (for Habiganj/Narsingdi industrial belts), Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (to ease Dhaka-Chattogram highway congestion), and Noapara River Port in Jashore
• Implement time-bound dredging, river training, and bank protection to ensure navigability
• Operationalize customs and monitoring services at key river ports

Ports and ICDs

• Expedite construction of the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Dhirashram
• Evaluate ICD facilities at Nimtoli and the Pabna-Ishwardi corridor to leverage Padma Bridge connectivity
• Strengthen rail links to all seaports
• Complete the Matarbari Deep Sea Port and Bay Terminal projects
• Fully utilize Mongla and Payra ports alongside Chattogram to manage rising demand

Roads

• Enforce road traffic acts strictly
• Build and maintain resilient road infrastructure
• Implement a standardized public transport network

Related link

Rail to revive as Gov't Eyes Major Transport Reset