Uncertainty Looms Over Inter-Governmental Meeting

The first railway line in India was built about 173 years ago, in 1853. After the launch of trains in the then Bombay, Bengal did not have to wait long. Just nine years later, in 1862, the railway made its debut in this region.

The Bengal territory entered the railway era with the establishment of a track from Darshana in Chuadanga to Jagati in Kushtia. Time passed, and the branches of the railway expanded. These networks remained even after the independence of Bangladesh, and new lines were constructed for movement between the two countries.

There are eight railway interchanges for passenger and goods transport between Bangladesh and India. Although five are currently operational, passenger trains were running regularly on only three of these routes until recently. Freight trains have also operated on these tracks.

Rail communication between the two countries was suspended during the mass movement of 2024. While freight train services eventually resumed, passenger trains remain shut down. These routes are not reopening as the necessary "green signal" has not yet been granted. Despite this, India has investments in Bangladesh Railway for the sake of connectivity. To address various issues, including train operations, an inter-governmental meeting is held every year. The last meeting took place in Delhi, and according to the rotation, the next one is scheduled to be held in Dhaka.

According to the schedule, the meeting was supposed to take place in January this year. However, the interim government postponed it, citing the national election, stating that the elected government would decide on the meeting after the polls. Subsequently, Bangladesh Railway began preparations for a potential meeting in March. However, progress has since stalled. Despite several preparatory sessions, no significant advancements have been made.

According to sources in the Ministry of Railways, discussions were held in late February and mid-March to determine the agenda and other details for the inter-governmental meeting. The issues to be raised were nearly finalized.

Fahimul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways, believes the meeting depends on the timing of both countries. He stated that the meeting was supposed to happen in March, noting that since the last one was in Delhi, this one will be in Bangladesh. He added that the meeting would occur at a mutually convenient time for both nations.

When asked why the meeting is being repeatedly delayed, whether it is stuck due to diplomatic complexities, or if the government has given the green signal to sit with India, the Railway Secretary remained silent.

However, based on conversations with several officials concerned, it is understood that Delhi needs to send a letter regarding the meeting, and Dhaka must also send one to Delhi. Neither has happened yet.

The railway authorities have informed the Ministry of Railways about the preparatory meetings. Conversely, the office of Railway Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has not initiated any discussions. Consequently, the timeline for a decision is pushing further away.

An anonymous high-ranking official commented that this is a decision for the highest levels of government. If the Prime Minister's visit to India is finalized, this meeting could be settled in a single day. The main factor now is what the government intends to do.

Three suspended passenger trains will be a priority in the discussions. Amid the unstable situation surrounding the anti-discrimination student movement, the railway suspended all domestic train services on July 18, 2024, citing security risks. Rail communication between Bangladesh and India was also halted. While domestic services resumed on August 12, India-Bangladesh passenger trains have remained suspended ever since.

On the night of July 17 that year, the Mitali Express reached Dhaka Cantonment Station from New Jalpaiguri. The train was scheduled to depart for New Jalpaiguri the following night, but the trip was canceled due to the evolving situation.

The empty rake of the Mitali Express remained stuck at Dhaka Railway Station for a long time. Eventually, it was sent back to the Indian border under special security arrangements. Currently, the Mitali Express (Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri), the Maitree Express (Dhaka-Kolkata), and the Bandhan Express (Khulna-Kolkata) all remain non-operational.
Subsequently, the interim government sent letters to India three times to resume train services, but to no avail. In August 2025, preparations were made by the railway to send another letter, but the Yunus government did not agree, leaving the responsibility to an elected government instead.

At that time, India cited "security risks" as an excuse, a concern that apparently persists today. Although the Indian government has not provided any formal response to the letters, the cross-border Maitree, Mitali, and Bandhan Express trains have remained suspended for 21 months.

Other points on the meeting agenda

The 38th Inter-Governmental Railway Meeting (IGRM) is expected to address various critical issues regarding bilateral rail connectivity between Bangladesh and India. A preparatory meeting regarding the agenda was held by Bangladesh Railway on October 6 last year. On October 23, the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways finalized and signed the minutes of that meeting. Following this, two more preparatory meetings were held on February 24 and March 12.

According to the decisions made in these meetings, the Ministry of Railways will send another letter to India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following up on previous correspondence regarding the resumption of the Maitree, Mitali, and Bandhan Express trains. Simultaneously, a formal proposal will be sent to Indian Railways to attach luggage vans to passenger trains to facilitate the transport of additional passenger goods.

In the meantime, Bangladesh Railway has sent a letter to the Indian Railway Board through the ministry seeking approval to operate a new train on the Rajshahi-Kolkata route.

Furthermore, the railway intends to change the route of the Maitree Express. Bangladesh plans to utilize the Padma Bridge for this service. Consequently, Bangladesh Railway will soon send a formal proposal to Indian Railways to operate the Maitree Express via the Padma Bridge, which will also include a proposal for nighttime operations.

Visa normalization required before resuming trains

If passenger train services resume, India must restart the visa processing that is currently "closed" in Dhaka. However, from the Indian side, Bangladesh is still not considered safe for passenger train travel. Therefore, while permission has been granted for freight trains, passenger train movement remains suspended.

An official from the Ministry of Railways stated that Bangladesh Railway contacted the Indian Railway Board informally several times last August regarding passenger trains, but India did not agree. Later, on August 19 of last year, India granted permission for freight trains in response to a letter from the Operations Department of Bangladesh Railway. Bangladesh received the "no objection" clearance for freight trains that same night.

Md. Afzal Hossain, Director General of Bangladesh Railway, questioned where the passengers would come from even if the trains started. He remarked that all preparations for running the trains are in place, but permission is needed. More importantly, he emphasized that the visa process must be normalized before the trains can resume. He added that it would be difficult to operate a train if only 50 passengers are available instead of a thousand.