India-Bangladesh train services resume after 2 years

Passenger train services between India and Bangladesh resumed on Sunday (May 29) after over a two-year gap owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bandhan Express flagged off from Kolkata station on way to Khulna at 7:20am. Through the flagging off of Bandhan Express, train services resumed between the two neighbourng countries.

Besides, Maitree Express also left Dhaka cantonment station for Kolkata with passengers at 8:15 am.

Bangladesh Railway Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder inaugurated the flagging off of Maitree Express from Dhaka cantonment station for Kolkata.

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

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.

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

India-Bangladesh train connectivity through West Bengal will receive another boost from June 1 with the inauguration of Mitali Express between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka.

The new service will also boost tourism in northern West Bengal 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.