Dhaka for on-board visa checking, joint customs inspection for Maitree

Bangladesh today formally proposes to India introduction of on-board visa checking and setting up of a common station for joint customs checking of the passengers of Dhaka-Kolkata train Maitree Express.
The proposal comes in the wake of passengers' sufferings due to too much time taken in customs and immigration formalities during the train's maiden trip.
The communications ministry is also going to propose adjusting the timetable of the Maitree Express to cut the 13-hour journey and checking time by one hour within this month.
Bangladesh rail officials will submit their recommendations to their counterparts today while the communications ministry will send its proposals to the Indian government in a week through foreign ministry.
Other recommendations include return ticket sale at both sides, easing visa system for the passengers and promotional activities to popularise the service, sources here said.
The much-talked-about train service, which was suspended in March 1965 after the India-Pakistan war, resumed on April 14.
Though the journey was comfortable and immigration checking at Darsana in Chuadanga was simple, enthusiasm of the inaugural run's passengers waned when they faced the customs and immigration checking at Gede in India.
In sweltering heat, the passengers had to wait for nearly two and half hours in a metal cage.
Earlier after getting down from the train with all their baggage, the passengers had to stand in queue for their turn for checking.
Though there is arrangement for food there, the travellers could not buy those for not having Indian currency during the stopover.
Lack of toilets also added to the passengers' woes.
Earlier, it took about two hours at Darsana when Bangladesh officials emptied one compartment at a time for the checking. The passengers could go back to their seats on completion of the formalities.
Besides, immigration officials at 12 counters were prompt in their job.
Though the journey took less than eight hours, the total checking alone took five hours.
“I don't think anyone of this trip would feel like travelling in this train again if things go on like this,” a foreign ministry official said, sweating in the tin-roofed waiting hall at Gede.
The passengers suggested setting up of more counters and employing experienced officials.
When the passengers of the inaugural run from Dhaka were returning on Wednesday, they were forced to wait at the exit of Gede waiting hall for a long time as the official having the key of the door could not be found, though the train was scheduled to leave in 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, passengers from Kolkata have to wait at Darsana for more than one hour as the Kolkata-bound train takes more time to reach there.
When both the trains are there, the Indian engine replaces the Bangladeshi one and starts for Kolkata with passengers from Dhaka.
“We can reduce the time by at least one hour by adjusting the schedules so that those from Kolkata don't have to wait,” ATKM Ismail, additional communication secretary, told The Daily Star.
According to the plan, the Maitree Express, which leaves the Cantonment Station at 8:30am will start at 8:00am while one from Chitpur station in Kolkata will start at 8:00am instead of 7:10am.
ON BOARD CHECKING, COMMON STATION
Bangladesh has already asked India informally to consider on board visa checking and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said that the two countries are considering it.
Saying that Bangladesh has already made the proposal, ATKM Ismail said discussion is on for joint checking at a common station.
“Officials of both the countries will conduct the checking at a common station to be set up on the border. Passengers will not have to go through the checking twice once we start it,” he said.
If India agrees, the station will be set up in a year, he added.
HASSLE DURING TICKET PURCHASE IN KOLKATA
The passengers from Dhaka faced unbearable sufferings when they went to buy return tickets in Kolkata.
They were asked to go to Rail Bhaban at Fairly Place in Kolkata at 8:00am on April 15 and most of them had to wait till 3:00pm to get the tickets for Dhaka.
Though Indian authorities made the security system foolproof, they are yet to put any well-organised system for ticket sale. The two computers used by the staff there remained out of order for a long time.
“You see, our computers are not working,” Nialanjana, a female staff there told The Daily Star, while struggling to pacify the agitating passengers who started shouting at one stage.
ATKM Ismail said that they would request the Indian authorities to speed up the ticket sale process as well as to start selling Maitree Express tickets at the Kolkata Station instead of the Rail Bhaban.
More counters will be set up at Kamalapur station and experienced staff will be employed to quicken ticket sale, he added.
Many passengers have asked for easing the visa issuing system and establishing separate counters at Indian High Commission in Dhaka for the Maitree passengers.
Since the train runs on Saturday and Sunday while Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays, special visa arrangement should be made for the passengers, a communication ministry official said.