DHAKA — With the first train decorated with colorful balloons and ribbons arriving at the Dhaka station, Bangladesh's largest railway, the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, officially opened across its entire line on Tuesday.

The railway, one of the major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh, was built by the China Railway Group and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China.

Known locally as the "Dream Road", it stretches about 170 kilometers. Following its opening, travel time between the capital Dhaka and the southwestern city of Jashore will be reduced from 10 hours to three hours.

The railway is also expected to significantly boost economic development in the regions along its route, directly benefiting 80 million people and driving Bangladesh's economic growth by 1.5 percentage points.

"This is a happy moment for us as Bangladesh enters new railway connectivity via Padma Bridge," Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Railways, said at the opening ceremony.

Fahimul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Railways, said the commercial operation of this new train not only marked the beginning of a new segment, but also opened a transformative chapter in the history of Bangladesh's railway.

"We are grateful for the collaboration with China, whose financing and well-structured construction have been instrumental in implementing this project," the secretary said. "This project highlights the friendship between our two countries, mutual respect, shared goals and vision for sustainable development."

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen said the project is a good example of China-Bangladesh economic cooperation. "China is willing to continue to carry out follow-up cooperation with Bangladesh on the project to bring greater economic and social benefits to the railway."

China is willing to continue to do its best to support Bangladesh's development and work with Bangladesh to advance cooperation in railway and other infrastructure construction, Yao said.

"China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to make deep contributions in Bangladesh, assist Bangladesh in achieving industrial upgrading and export diversification, and make more contributions to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and improving the well-being of the Bangladeshi people."

Xinhua