Seminar on “Jamuna Railway Bridge – Project Management and Construction Challenges”

A seminar titled “Jamuna Railway Bridge – Project Management and Construction Challenges” was held on May 4, 2025, organized by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Asia Pacific (UAP). The event took place in the Jury Room of the Department of Architecture, and was attended by honorable Vice Chancellor of UAP, Prof. Dr. Qumrul Ahsan, faculty members and students from Level 4, Term 1 and 2 of the Civil Engineering Department.
The seminar featured Mr. Keiji Tominaga, Project Manager of the Jamuna JV Project Office, Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters, OBAYASHI Corporation, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Tominaga recently oversaw the successful completion of Bangladesh’s latest railway infrastructure achievement—the Jamuna Railway Bridge. With decades of international experience, Mr. Tominaga has played a critical role in advancing engineering practices worldwide.

The session was hosted by Dr. Md Imran Rahman Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, UAP. In his welcome address, Dr. Chowdhury emphasized the importance of learning from real-world mega projects and introduced the distinguished guests.
In his technical presentation, Mr. Tominaga discussed the unique project management aspects and construction complexities of the Jamuna Railway Bridge. The challenges included navigating the unpredictable behavior of the raging Jamuna River and constructing bridge piers with an innovative foundation structure specifically designed for railway bridges—a method rarely implemented globally. His insights offered students an in-depth look into advanced construction methodologies and strategic problem-solving in large-scale infrastructure projects.
The seminar also welcomed Mr. Sohel Chowdhury, Deputy Project Manager for the Jamuna Railway Bridge Project. With years of experience in complex infrastructure works in Bangladesh and abroad, Mr. Chowdhury supplemented the discussion with practical knowledge from the field, adding valuable perspectives to the session. An interactive Q&A session followed the presentations, during which students actively engaged with the speakers, raising questions about engineering techniques, project risks, and logistics involved in managing a project of this magnitude.

Honorable Vice Chancellor of UAP, Prof. Dr. Qumrul Ahsan expressed gratitude to the speakers for their invaluable contribution and shared his valuable insights. The event concluded with a closing speech by Mr. Syed Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Assistant Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department. Tokens of appreciation were presented to the guests to acknowledge their participation and insights.
The seminar was highly informative and well-received, offering students an exceptional opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals involved in one of the country’s landmark infrastructure projects.Some of the photographs from the seminar are attached hereby.