Bangladesh Railway (BR) on Sunday signed a deal with the Indian company Hindustan Engineering and Industries Limited to procure 420 broad-gauge wagons involving Tk 231.19 crore for the railways.
The contract was signed under the "Rolling Stock Operation Improvement Project" of Bangladesh Railway.
Concerned Project Director M Mizanur and Hindustan Engineering and Industries Limited Vice President Prodip Guha signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides at Rail Bhaban in Dhaka.
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan was present at the signing ceremony as the chief guest.
"The aim of the present government is sustainable development, and that's why the rail communication system is being developed as a balanced transport mode," said the minister.
He said that the newly procured wagons will boost freight transportation by replacing old and overaged wagons of Bangladesh Railway.
The wagons will be delivered within 27 months from the effective date of contract, Sujan added.
The government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will jointly finance implementing the project.
Ministry high officials including Railways Secretary Dr M Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh Railway Director General Direndranath Majumder, among others, attended the function.
