May 31, 2022
2 mins read

India-Bangladesh train services resume after two-year break

On Sunday, along with Bandhan Express, Maitri Express also restarted the service between Kolkata and Dhaka from the Dhaka Cantonment station for the first time since March 2020….reports Asian Lite News

With the flagging off of the Bandhan Express from Kolkata in West Bengal on its route to Khulna in Bangladesh, passenger train services between India and Bangladesh restarted on Sunday after an almost two-year hiatus due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The official Twitter account of the High Commission of India in Bangladesh tweeted, “Bandhan Express train service resumes! After a long wait due to COVID-19, cross-border train service b/w Kolkata & Khulna resumed today, with the train being flagged off from Kolkata. Resumption of this critical cross-border service will greatly ease passenger movement.”

On Sunday, along with Bandhan Express, Maitri Express also restarted the service between Kolkata and Dhaka from the Dhaka Cantonment station for the first time since March 2020.

Farooq, a passenger told ANI, “We like the journey since it is very comfortable. This train is very convenient for us to travel between India and Bangladesh. We are happy that the service is resumed. We are residents of Khulna. We come to Kolkata for the treatment of my wife who is a cancer patient.”

“We want the relations between India and Bangladesh to strengthen further. Passengers come from Bangladesh mainly for tourism, medical, and purchasing purposes. Since it’s the first day, the passenger traffic is low. Only 19 passengers were on Bandhan Express on the first day and around 100 passengers were on Maitree Express,” said HN Gangopadhyay, PRO and Assistant Commercial Manager, Eastern Railway Sealdah.

While the Bandhan Express runs between Kolkata and Khulna twice a week, the Maitree Express has services between Kolkata and Bangladesh’s capital five times a week. There are air-conditioned chair cars and executive class categories on the trains, which have a capacity of roughly 450 passengers.

The NJP-Dhaka Mitali Express will commence operations between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka on Wednesday, following its planned virtual flagging off from Rail Bhawan by the railway ministers of India and Bangladesh.

The new service would also enhance tourism in northern West Bengal since many Bangladeshi tourists are eager to visit the Darjeeling Hills and the woods and tea gardens of the Dooars, which are located in the foothills.

ALSO READ: India, Bangladesh foreign ministers meet on key issues

Previous Story

Rice and milk powder sent by TN distributed in Jaffna

Next Story

Rajnath: India’s maritime security demands have shifted

Latest from -Top News

Trump unhappy with deadly strikes on Kyiv 

The president said he is “putting a lot of pressure” on both sides to end the war in Ukraine, following the deadliest attacks Kyiv has seen since last July  President Donald Trump

Macron: ‘We Stand with India’

Macron said that France will stand together with its allies and would continue the fight against terrorism wherever necessary….reports Asian Lite News French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday spoke to Prime Minister

Pakistan Slams IWT Move as ‘Act of War’

Islamabad also said that India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will be considered as an “act of war”…reports Asian Lite News The high-level emergency meeting of Pakistan’s National Security

Modi: We’ll Hunt Them Down

The Prime Minister thanked nations that extended support to India in the aftermath of the terror attack…reports Asian Lite News In his first address after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu

Moscow Steps Up Afghan Diplomacy

Russia sees a potential economic partner in the Taliban authorities, who praised Moscow for scrapping the “terrorism” label last week…reports Asian Lite News Russia has announced that it will elevate the Afghan
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Guterres backs India’s stance on Ukraine war

UN Secretary General is on his first visit to India

Indian-origin head of White House Military Office steps down

At the White House, his role included working with the