Despite earning profits, Bangladesh Railway has handed over the operation of Betna Express train, running on the Benapole–Khulna–Mongla route, to the private sector, triggering dissatisfaction among the passengers in the southwestern region.
H&M Trading Corporation, a private company, has assumed responsibility for the train’s commercial and ticket management since January 11, 2026. The route, previously operated under government management, was generating steady profits. The decision to lease it out has raised concerns among commuters and service seekers.
Railway sources said that Bangladesh Railway issued a tender on April 22, 2025 to lease ticket management for the route. The tender was opened on May 19 and after evaluation in the first week of June, the proposal was forwarded to the railway’s evaluation committee. After scrutiny, H&M Trading Corporation was awarded a three-year contract.
Benapole Railway Stationmaster Aynal Hasan said that train fares would remain unchanged despite the shift to private management. However, he noted a significant change in the operating schedule. The train, which previously remained off service on Tuesdays, will now operate seven days a week.
Railway officials said that the decision was taken in line with policy and aimed at generating higher revenue than current earnings.
Mihir Kumar Guha, Chief Commercial Manager of Bangladesh Railway at Pakshi, said that railway rules allow leasing if a private firm guarantees revenue higher than the average income of the previous six months. Bangladesh Railway retains the authority to cancel the lease if necessary, he added.
Local residents have claimed that the leasing process has been completed quietly, without public consultations, possibly to avoid protests. They also fear that private management could result in fewer coaches, overcrowding and increased passenger hardship. They have called on the railway authorities to intervene.
Passengers, however, said that the train currently earns Tk 35 lakh to Tk 40 lakh per month, adding that revenue could be increased further under government management by deploying more ticket checkers at railway stations.
“It takes three to three-and-a half hours to travel from Khulna to Benapole by bus at a cost of Tk 250. The commuter train takes about two and a half hours and costs only Tk 45 to Tk 50,” said passenger Saiful Islam Sayeed.
Another passenger, Mahmudul Hasan Nabil, said that private management could lead to a decline in service quality and increased influence of smugglers. He urged the railway authorities to withdraw the service from private control and return it to government management.
Humayun Ahmed, owner of H&M Trading Corporation, said his company had formally received the contract and that the handover of the train had been planned earlier. Implementation was delayed due to budgetary and administrative issues, he said, adding that the train has been operating under private ticket management since Sunday.
The Benapole–Khulna–Mongla route was launched in 1999 and operated under government management until 2010. It was later leased to private operators—Banna Enterprise and Islam Ship Builders—before being returned to government control in 2013 amid allegations of declining service quality and growing smuggling activity. In 2017, the authorities concerned increased services to two daily trips, citing the route’s strategic importance.
