Bangladesh News

India and Bangladesh have decided to launch a train service between Kolkata and Dhaka on April 14, marking first rail link between the two neighbours.

The agreement to launch the service on Bangla New Year’s Day was taken at a three-day meeting of India-Bangladesh Intergovernmental Committee of Railways, which concluded here yesterday, official sources said.

As per the agreement, each country will run the train for six months, they said.

The two countries now have two bus services between Kolkata and Dhaka and between Agartala and Dhaka.

Launch of the train service is a significant development as this remained undecided for several years.

The caretaker government recently took a number of other steps that have drawn positive reaction from India.

These steps include clearance of a power project to be set up by BHEL. Significantly, an investment of about $200 million will be made by Bangladesh in this project.

The caretaker government is also positively considering India’s proposals for transit and gas pipeline to Myanmar.