Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the Dhaka-Narayanganj commuter train. She inaugurated the diesel-electric multiple unit trains yesterday. Photo: BSS

The first-ever commuter train in the country hit the Dhaka-Narayanganj tracks yesterday to ensure faster travel on the 20-kilometre route.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the six-coach Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train at Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital.
Railways Minister Mujibul Haq, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir and Bangladesh Railway Director General Abu Taher were also present on the occasion.
The train departed the Kamalapur station at 1:25pm and reached Narayanganj at 2:00pm.
The train, which can carry 300 passengers at a time, will make 14 trips daily on the route.
Although the DEMU train can run at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour, it was running much slower due to presence of slums, bazars and level crossings at various points on the route, said Abu Taher.
The DEMU train is the first of a total of 20 trains being imported from China as per a $58.31 million deal signed in 2011.
The railway is also importing five six-coach DEMU trains from India, which will start supplying the trains by the end of this year.
The government is planning to introduce commuter trains on short routes across the country.