Ekota Express

In 1986, a train named Ekota Express was started between Dinajpur and Dhaka. As Jamuna Bridge did no exist on that time, passengers can go from Dinajpur up to Balashi Ghat. There, they had to cross Jamuna river by ferry, and on the other side of the river, another rake of Ekota Express started up to Dhaka. Since the introduction of Jamuna Bridge, Ekota Express runs on a single rake.

On 2 September 2016, Ekota Express along with Drutojan Express were converted from meter-gauge to broad-gauge. Ekota Express has a load of 13/26 and can hold up to 1,200 passengers.

On 16 December 2016, railway coaches of Ekota Express along with Drutojan Express were changed with newer ones imported from Indonesia.[3]

On 11 November 2018, the route of Ekota and Drutojan Express were extended from Dhaka–Dinajpur to Dhaka–Panchagarh. As a result, the shuttle train service between Dinajpur and Panchagarh was closed.[2]

• 04/08/2005: The locomotive and a coach of Dhaka-bound Ekota Express derailed at the outer signal of Joydebpur Junction railway station of Gazipur District.[4]
• 16/04/2008: Dhaka-bound Ekota Express collided with a local bus on a level crossing on the outskirts of Kalihati, Tangail District. 17 people died and at least 30 were injured.[5]
• 13/04/2014: At about 3:20 am, a running Dhaka-bound Ekota Express collided head-on with a standing Lalmonirhat-bound Lalmoni Express at Ullapara railway station, Sirajganj District. Three coaches of Ekota Express and one coach of Lalmoni Express were mangled. A total of seven coaches veered off the tracks. At least 2 people died and 50 people were injured.[6][7]
• 01/11/2019: Dinajpur-bound Ekota Express escaped from an accident from a broken railway track in Raninagar Upazila of Naogaon District.[8]