The Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar railway is scheduled to resume passenger services on Sunday after a five-day suspension caused by floodwater submerging part of the railway line, railway officials said.

The Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar Parjatak Express is to become the first train to depart Chattogram station for the coastal district at 11:40 am local time. Other scheduled services between Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka will follow in phases, according to Bangladesh Railway’s eastern zone.

Services were halted on Tuesday after an estimated 500-metre section of track near Shamsherpara, in the Sholoshohor–Jan Ali Hat segment, was inundated. Water rose to a maximum depth of 21 inches, well beyond the 4-5 inch safe-operating limit for locomotive traction motors, forcing the railway to suspend all movement.

Two trains — the Parjatak Express from Dhaka and the Prabal Express travelling from Cox’s Bazar to Chattogram —were stranded on either side of the flooded section that day. The Parjatak Express’s onward journey was later cancelled, while the Prabal Express terminated at Jan Ali Hat instead of Chattogram. Passengers are being refunded for cancelled portions.

The Parjatak Express stranded near the Sholoshohor station on the Cox’s Bazar route when water rose over the track in the Sholoshohor–Jan Ali Hat section on July 8, 2026. Photo: Bonik Barta.

Md Harunur Rashid, deputy director for public relations at Bangladesh Railway’s eastern zone, said the decision to reopen the line followed a drop in water levels. Track-lifting operations carried out between midnight and 2:00 am on Sunday raised the affected segment to at least 10 inches above the water surface. Railway engineering and transport officials said the necessary engineering work was then completed. However, fresh downpours late Saturday night and early Sunday morning prevented the scheduled morning departure of the Shaikat Express. The Parjatak Express will instead become the first train to resume services on the route after the five-day suspension. Senior railway officials are expected to be present at Chattogram station to oversee the first departure.

Rashid confirmed that the remaining trains on the corridor, including the Cox’s Bazar Express and the Prabal Express in both directions, are set to operate according to their timetabled schedules.