Bangladesh-India train service resumption likely from May 29

More than two years after being suspention owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the rail service between Bangladesh and India is likely to resume from May 29, reports The Daily Star.

Also, Mitali Express, the third passenger train between the two countries, is likely to start operation between Dhaka and West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri (NJP) four days a week from June 1.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, who is expected to visit India late this month, and Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will jointly inaugurate the new train from Rail Bhavan in New Delhi virtually, sources at railway authorities said.

Railways of both the countries agreed about the dates, Sardar Shahadat Ali, additional director general (operations) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) said.

However, they will be able to give formal announcement about the dates after holding an inter-ministerial meeting likely on Sunday or Monday, he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Before the suspension of service in March 2020, Maitree Express was being operated on Dhaka-Kolkata route for five days in a week while Bandhan Express on Khulna-Kolkata route twice weekly. 

Mitali Express, which was inaugurated by prime ministers of Bangladesh and India on March 26 last year, would use Chilahati-Haldibari rail link.

After 55 years, rail communication between the countries via Chilahati-Haldibari route resumed in December 2020. A move was taken in March to resume the service in that month this year but could not be re-started over some visa related and Covid protocol related issues.

But, both BR and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka recently wrote to Indian railway ministry to resume cross border passenger train services. Following that the dates were fixed, BR sources said.

Maitree Express will resume operation from Dhaka with BR rack (train) while operation of Bandhan Express will resume from Kolkata with Indian Railway's rack, they said.