Bangladesh, India plan to resume cross-border train services by October
The two countries will hold their two-day annual meeting in Dhaka, beginning Tuesday.
Bangladesh and India are planning to resume cross-border passenger train services by October 2026, according to railway officials.
The three major international routes are expected to restart operations after remaining suspended for more than two years.
The planned services include the Maitree Express between Dhaka and Kolkata, the Mitali Express and the Bandhan Express.
Passenger train services between Bangladesh and India were suspended on 19 July 2024, shortly before the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August.
Railway authorities from the two countries are scheduled to hold a two-day annual meeting in Dhaka from Tuesday, where officials will discuss arrangements for restarting the services.
Bangladesh is also expected to propose launching a new passenger train service connecting Rajshahi with Kolkata during the meeting, officials said.
The country is further seeking to reroute the Maitree Express through the Padma Bridge instead of the Jamuna Bridge, which has traditionally been used by the service.
The Padma Bridge, inaugurated during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, is expected to feature prominently in discussions over the future route of the Maitree Express.
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