Construction of Dual Gauge Railway Line from Bogra to Sirajganj

Notice of Invitation to Participate in Early Market Engagement Webinar Business Opportunities in the Bangladesh Railway Sector Scan for Scan for Date of Event: March 12, 2026, at 14.00 (Bangladesh Standard Time) Registration Questionnaire Survey Employer: Bangladesh Railway (under Ministry of Railways) Project name: Construction of Dual-Gauge Railway Line from Bogura to Shahid M.Mansur Ali Station,Sirajganj of Bangladesh Railway. Project focus: Construction of dual-gauge railway tracks and associated infrastructure; construction supervision service. Country: People’s Republic of Bangladesh Source of finance: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank (NDB) 1. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB), through its Implementing Agency – Bangladesh Railway (BR) under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), is currently implementing the ‘Construction of Dual-Gauge Railway Line from Bogura to Shahid M.Mansur Ali Station,Sirajganj of Bangladesh Railwaywith financial support from AIIB and NDB. 2. The project aims to develop a dual-gauge (DG) railway line of approximately 85 km of main line, together with 11 stations (including three existing stations to be transformed into junctions), bridges, culverts, and modern signaling and telecommunications systems. The corridor will bypass the existing circuitous alignment, shorten the rail distance between Bogra/ northern districts and Dhaka by more than 110 km, and cut travel time by approximately 3 to 4 hours for both passenger and freight services. Upon completion, this line is expected to improve BR’s service attractiveness, operational efficiency, and reliability, enabling BR to better respond to growing demand and unlock suppressed passenger and freight flows from the north-western region. The objective of the project is “to enhance national railway connectivity and reduce travel time by developing a climate-resilient dual-gauge railway corridor between Bogura and Sirajganj”. The project is considered a priority project of the GoB, and all procurements are expected to be initiated shortly. 3. The purpose of the Early Market Engagement (EME) is to invite high-caliber international, regional, and national consultants, suppliers, and contractors in advance to discuss the major procurement packages under the project. The objective of this EME is to: a. assess market appetite, capacity, capabilities, and emerging trends; b. brief potential contractors/ suppliers/ consultants on the bidding and contracting process; c. collect feedback on packaging, evaluation criteria, and identify any additional requirements; d. test the suitability of supervision arrangements; e. identify any risks, incentives, and opportunities, and f. gather insights on consultants, suppliers, and contractors’ experience in implementing similar projects within the railway sector, preferably in Bangladesh/ South Asia region. 4. Specifically, the EME will cover the following: A. Works Package – 01 (WD1) ▪ Construction of DG railway track from Bogura to Chandaikona ▪ Y connection from Ranirhat to Kahaloo ▪ Associated works, including construction/ reconstruction/ renovation of station buildings, platforms, platform sheds, foot over bridge; ▪ Construction and/or reconstruction of DG standard embankment, bridges, and culverts, upgradation/ construction/ renovation of L-xing Gates, and other ancillary works, including supply of all requisite materials, labor, and equipment. B. Works Package – 02 (WD2) ▪ Construction of DG railway track from Chadaikona to Shaheed Mansur Ali (SMA) Station, Sirajganj ▪ Associated works, including construction/ reconstruction/ renovation of station buildings, platforms, platform sheds, foot over bridge; ▪ Construction and/or reconstruction of DG standard embankment, bridges, and culverts, upgradation/ construction/ renovation of L-xing Gates, and other ancillary works, including supply of all requisite materials, labor, and equipment. ▪ Electrical works and supply installation, testing, and commissioning of computer-based signaling and interlocking system for the entire section from Bogura and Kahaloo Station up to SMA, Sirajganj C. Service Package 02 (SD2) ▪ Construction Supervision Service for both works packages under the project. 5. Procurement for these packages will be conducted in accordance with the AIIB’s Procurement Policy and Directive on Procurement Instructions for Recipients and applicable Standard Procurement Documents using the International Open Competitive Tendering process. 6. The procurement process for the above-mentioned contracts is expected to commence in 2026-2027. The implementation period of both work packages is expected to be 36 months, including Defect Liability Period (DLP). 7. Projects will also follow the AIIB’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which sets out the overarching environmental and social requirements. The contractors will be required to ensure strict compliance with AIIB ESF requirements. 8. Bangladesh Railway, in support of AIIB, hereby invites private sector contractors/ suppliers and consultants to participate in this EME event scheduled for March 12, 2026, at 14.00 (Bangladesh Standard Time). The webinar will take place in English. 9. Please register for a virtual webinar via this link: https://forms.office.com/r/kVJ8fXJfBy 10. The deadline for registration is March 11, 2026, 12.00 BST. After registration, the participants may join the virtual webinar through the link provided in the registered email address. 11. The interested firms are also requested to fill out a questionnaire survey form and submit it before the Webinar. The link to the survey form: https://forms.office.com/r/pQMNfiWvQr 12. In this session, you will: a. Learn more about the project. b. Interact directly with Bangladesh Railway and AIIB/ NDB to discuss project aspects. c. Have the opportunity to raise potential queries directly to Bangladesh Railway and AIIB/ NDB. 13. Participation in EME does not constitute pre-qualification. Feedback provided will be considered internally by the Employer and the AIIB/ NDB and will not be disclosed publicly or to other competitors. 14. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Bangladesh Standard Time. Address: Project Director’s Office, Rail Bhaban, 16-Abdul Gani Road, Dhaka-1000 E-mail: pdbsrlp@gmail.com