Why is the train running so slowly on the railway line connected to Bangabundha Jamuna bridge? Why not go at normal speed?
Launched in 1997, the bridge currently carries a large number of vehicles as well as 44 trains per day. It takes about fifteen minutes for a train to cross this only 4.6 km long bridge connecting the eastern part of the country with the western part.

The bridge was planned to run only meter gauge trains, where both meter gauge and broad gauge trains now operate. Moreover, the running of the train is also unplanned. The railway line is slightly north from the pillars of the bridge. Due to these reasons, cracks appeared in the bridge.
So trains are run slowly on this bridge to avoid accidents. There have been accidents on this bridge in the past:
The Dinajpur-bound ‘Dutayan Express’, which left Dhaka in 2014, was caught in a storm at 11 pm. Out of its 13 coaches, the last 9 coaches were derailed. Strong winds are believed to be the cause of the accident. Although no major accidents occurred.

The driver of the train said-
"As the speed of the train was low, major accidents were avoided. Moreover, if the bogies tilted to the north of the bridge, all the bogies would fall into the river and cause great damage. ”
Note that there is no girder on the north side of the bridge.
However, the hope is that the 'Second Bangabandhu Dual Gauge Railway Bridge' will be constructed a few hundred yards north of the bridge. The dual gauge (meter gauge and broad gauge) double line bridge will be constructed for railways only at a cost of Tk 16,061 crore with 82% loan assistance from JICA of Japan. Work is scheduled to begin this November and is expected to be completed by December 2025.

This will make it possible to run trains at normal speeds and also to carry freight trains which was not possible till now. Undoubtedly, this bridge will add a new dimension to the communication between East and West.
