India will resume exports of railway passenger coaches to Bangladesh in July, marking the first shipment since recent political changes and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The move signals continuity in India–Bangladesh rail cooperation and renewed momentum for cross‑border transport projects.
Railways PSU RITES Limited is set to deliver the first rake of 20 broad‑gauge passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway within the next two months, with the initial consignment likely to sail in July. The delivery forms part of a larger contract to supply 200 BG passenger coaches to Bangladesh between June 2026 and December 2027, as outlined by Bangladesh Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam in Parliament.
RITES CMD Rahul Mithal has said that prototypes for the coaches have already been approved, final production is underway, and the units are now in the finishing stage ahead of dispatch. Once the first rake is delivered, the company expects to ramp up exports with multiple rakes shipped in the current financial year, increasing the production rate as the program stabilizes.
Bangladesh has previously imported Indian‑built LHB‑type coaches to enhance intercity services, including trains flagged off from Dhaka using coaches supplied by RITES and manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. The new BG coaches are expected to further modernize Bangladesh Railway’s fleet, support capacity expansion and improve passenger comfort on key routes.
For India, the resumption of coach exports reinforces its position as a regional supplier of rolling stock and rail technology, complementing broader connectivity initiatives such as cross‑border passenger services and freight corridors. For Bangladesh, timely delivery of coaches will be critical to meeting rising demand on domestic routes and implementing fleet expansion plans despite recent political transitions.
