Locomotive shortage disrupts Bangladesh’s rail container freight

A shortage of locomotives is disrupting container train services between Chittagong Port and Dhaka, forcing businesses to increasingly rely on road and water transport for moving goods.

Bangladesh Railway data shows that revenue from container transportation in the Eastern Zone fell by 23.56% between fiscal year 2023-24 and 2025-26. During the same period, the volume of goods transported and the number of wagons used also declined.

In 2023-24, Bangladesh Railway transported 790,536 metric tons of goods through the Eastern Zone and earned Tk114.69 crore in revenue using 80,719 wagons. The figures fell to 707,023 metric tons, Tk76.28 crore and 63,100 wagons in 2024-25. In 2025-26, goods transport dropped further to 558,597 metric tons, with revenue at Tk87.67 crore and wagon use at 54,569.

Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain said container trains cannot operate as regularly as required because of the locomotive shortage. Passenger services receive priority because they cannot be suspended, leaving container trains to operate with the locomotives available.

Three to four locomotives are required every day to operate container trains according to demand, but the railway has been unable to provide the necessary number consistently.

Container movement declines at Kamalapur ICD

The shortage has also affected operations at the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD). In July, several key indicators recorded significant year-on-year declines, including a 33.09% fall in Bills of Entry and a 47.09% decline in container movement.

Imported goods handled through the ICD fell by 58.57%, while assessable value declined by 31.39%. Revenue collection also dropped by 31.84%.

According to Customs Commissioner Kazi Mohammad Ziauddin, the locomotive shortage is a major factor behind the decline, with businesses increasingly turning to road and water routes as alternatives.

The reduced rail service is also causing delays in clearing imported goods and moving empty or export-loaded containers between Kamalapur and Chittagong Port. Longer container stays at the ICD are increasing costs for importers, exporters and shipping agents.

Port authority seeks more container trains

The Chittagong Port Authority has repeatedly raised concerns over the shortage of container trains. A letter signed by the deputy traffic manager of Kamalapur ICD on August 10 requested urgent action to address the problem.

Bangladesh Railway had previously assured the port authority that around 90 container trains would be provided to Kamalapur ICD each month according to demand. However, only 32 trains were supplied in May, 44 in June and 36 in July, averaging around 1.2 trains a day.

The shortfall has raised concerns over delays and increased logistics costs. The port authority has warned that some shipping lines are considering alternative terminals or ports instead of Kamalapur ICD.

Container handling at Kamalapur ICD has also declined by around 18% compared with 2015-16. The port authority has requested at least three container trains a day, or 90 trains a month.

Railway seeks additional locomotives

Mamunul Islam, general manager of Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone, said the railway needs around 15 metre-gauge locomotives daily for freight operations between Chittagong and Dhaka but has been unable to provide even three or four consistently.

He said efforts are underway to arrange additional metre-gauge locomotives. According to him, increasing locomotive availability would help raise both passenger and freight revenue.

Mohammad Ashraf Karim Chowdhury, deputy traffic manager of Kamalapur ICD under the Chittagong Port Authority, said the requirement is 90 container trains a month. The authority had requested at least 60 trains, but in some months even 30 have not been provided.

Until the locomotive shortage is addressed, rail freight capacity on the Chittagong-Dhaka route is expected to remain constrained, leaving businesses with fewer rail options for transporting containers.