India suspends Maitree Express

Staff Correspondent: India has suspended the Maitree Express, a direct train service between Dhaka and Kolkata, in the wake Friday`s attack at the Holey Artisan café in capital`s Gulshan.

 

A top official of Indian Railways in New Delhi told BBC Bangla that the decision was taken after consulting with the Bangladesh authorities.

 

The official said it was a cautionary step taken temporarily as the train might be a possible target of terrorists.

 

But the railway authorities are not directly mentioning the security issue.

 

Anil Saxena, a railway spokesperson, said Maitree Express had been suspended during Eid-ul-Fitr.

 

But such a step was never taken during Eid in the last eight years.

 

Saxena could not say when the train service would resume.

 

Maitree Express, which was opened in April 2008, runs between Dhaka and Kolkata two days a week.

 

risingbd/Dhaka/July 06, 2016/M A Khan/A K Azad