Bangladesh-India train service resumes after over 2 years

Train service between Bangladesh and India resumed today after operations remained suspended for over two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Maitree Express – operated on Dhaka-Kolkata route – left Dhaka Cantonment Station at 8:15am with around 170 passengers, Shafiqur Rahman, divisional railway manager (Dhaka) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star.

BR Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder welcomed passengers with flowers as the train resumed after a long time, he said.

Meanwhile, Bandhan Express, on Khulna-Kolkata route, reached Benapole Railway Station from Kolkata around 9:45am, reports our local correspondent.

The Khulna-bound Bandhan Express started its journey from Kolkata station at Chitpur at 7:10 am (local time) today, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

While the Bandhan Express between Kolkata and Khulna runs two days a week, Maitree Express connecting Kolkata with Dhaka is a five-day service.

Eklavya Chakrborty, ER PRO, said people on both sides of the border are excited about the resumption of the train services which are fully booked for the next few days.

"With the comfort of train travel and a convenient time schedule along with affordability, people prefer this mode of transport over others such as bus and air," he said.

The two trains have a capacity of around 450 passengers and have air-conditioned chair car and executive class categories, he said.

Mitali Express between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka, which is set to begin from June 1, is expected to boost tourism in northern part of West Bengal state of India as many travellers from Bangladesh show a keen interest in exploring the Darjeeling hills and the forests and tea gardens of Dooars in the foothills, he said.