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Download PDF A 14-member Bangladesh delegation leaves for Kolkata today to discuss some unresolved issues about the launching of regular passenger train service between Dhaka and Kolkata.
The trial train Moitree Express will start from Dhaka Cantonment Station at 7:00am carrying the delegation for Chitpur Station in Kolkata.
The delegation expects to finalise the date for the official launching of the train service during its two-day meeting starting from tomorrow.
Additional Secretary for Communications ATKM Ismail will lead the team comprising high officials from home, communications and foreign ministries. Twenty-one more officials would assist the team.
During the talks on July 10-11 in Dhaka, the authorities concerned from both India and Bangladesh claimed some ’success’ and expressed hope that the train service would kick off before Ramadan (mid-September).
AE Ahmed, additional secretary of Indian home ministry, who led the 32-member team to Dhaka, is expected to sit again with the Bangladesh delegation in Kolkata.
Kazi Asadullah, assistant director general, Bangladesh Railway, said yesterday that they would discuss frequency of trips and security fencing.
“We will raise the topic of the frequency of trips again and we expect to finalise the date for starting the regular rail service,” he said adding that the delegation members would hold meetings among themselves on board the train.
Meanwhile, following Bangladesh’s objection to India’s proposal of building security fences from the border to Gede point, India has sent a revised plan to Bangladesh. Home ministry is scrutinising it at present.
At the meeting in Dhaka, India proposed two trips per week, which will operate from Kolkata to Dhaka on Saturdays and from Dhaka to Kolkata on Sundays. Meanwhile, Bangladesh wanted at least four trips a week.
AE Ahmed had observed that it is not possible to operate four trips a week, since the proposed service would require dedicated rail lines, which is not there right now.
Belayet Hossain, director general, Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star, “Though India was insisting on two trips a week, we did not agree. We would try to increase the frequency.”
The other issues both sides discussed at that time were fares and immigration and checking. The one-way fare for the train service was fixed at $8 for regular coach seat, $12 for AC chair and $20 for AC sleeping berth for the 536km journey. All customs and immigrations procedures will be carried out at Dhaka Cantonment Station and India’s Gede Station.
The non-stop train service will link Dhaka’s Cantonment Station with Kolkata’s Chitpur Station.
A passenger train service between the two cities was introduced towards the end of the Awami League government in July 2001. One train had run on trial basis, but the service was cancelled after the BNP-led coalition came to power.
The train service between the two neighbouring countries was snapped some four decades ago with the outbreak of war between India and Pakistan.
November 14th, 2007 at 12:42 am
Hi
Is train service start from dhaka to kolkata?
Thanks,
November 20th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Has there been any progrees in establishing this service yet. When can we expec the first scheduled services to actually run