They said there is a huge opportunity of steel sleeper export as many countries including India do not produce the railway track item.

The manufacturers said the international standard steel sleepers they produce can meet entire demand of Bangladesh Railway (BR).

The country can save huge foreign currencies if BR procures its total sleeper demand from local sources, local manufacturers told at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.

Local manufacturers can provide sleepers at competitive price also, they said.

"BR has enlisted five manufacturers so far. BR used locally produced sleepers in Dohazari area of Chittagong," said Golam Mohammed Alamgir of the Max Automobile Products Ltd, a sleeper manufacturer.

The manufacturers said some 200 industries have been working to support BR. A total of nine industries are producing railway sleepers and most of them produce international standard products.

Among others, Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed of Eastern Engineering Works Ltd was present at the press conference.