Dhaka-Kolkata ‘Maitree Express’ to resume soon
Collected Photo
The cross-border passenger train service between Bangladesh and India, the Maitree Express—which has been suspended for over two years—is likely to resume operations soon. Although no concrete decisions were reached on the first day of a three-day inter-ministerial railway meeting between the two nations, optimistic remarks from Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi have sparked hope. He said that discussions are actively ongoing and a specific date will be announced very shortly.
Speaking to journalists after a courtesy call with Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam at the Secretariat, Trivedi said that efforts are underway to deliver "good news" soon over reactivating the Maitree Express. Asked about the timeline, he assured that an exact date would be shared shortly.
Concurrently, the 38th Intra-Governmental Railway Meeting (IGRM) between Bangladesh and India commenced at the Rail Bhaban in Dhaka.
The initial day of the three-day convention concluded without formal agreements. Discussions covered cross-border passenger trains, Indian Line of Credit (LoC) railway projects, freight trains, and financial settlements between the two railway divisions, though neither side finalized any issues on day one.
Meeting sources revealed key proposals presented at the table:
Train Services & New Routes: Discussions included resuming the Mitali and Bandhan Express trains alongside the Maitree Express, as well as a proposal to introduce a new passenger service on the Rajshahi-Kolkata route.
Capacity & Amenities: Bangladesh requested adding luggage vans to passenger trains to accommodate extra baggage.
Rerouting via Padma Bridge: The most significant proposal involves rerouting the Maitree Express through the Padma Bridge instead of its current path over the Jamuna Bridge. Officials estimate this change could cut travel time by at least five hours.
Infrastructure & Border Crossings: Topics included reopening closed rail links, upgrading capacity at border stations, simplifying freight movements, and improving technical cooperation.
Officials viewed the lack of immediate decisions on day one as standard procedure. Railway Ministry Secretary Md. Fahimul Islam noted that final decisions are not expected on the first day; discussions will continue for two more days, concluding with the signing of the official minutes.
Transportation expert and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Md. Hadiuzzaman said, "The context of this meeting is different from previous ones, making it significantly more important. All eyes are on this event. If this meeting succeeds, it could create opportunities to revitalize stalled discussions in other sectors as well."
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam also reported positive discussions regarding the resumption of the Maitree Express. He mentioned that restarting the train is being given serious consideration to strengthen communication and mutual relations between the people of both countries. A decision will be made after completing necessary formalities, security arrangements, and coordination among relevant authorities.
If this long-suspended rail service resumes, it will not only ease travel between Dhaka and Kolkata, but also bring fresh momentum to cross-border movement for medical treatment, education, business, tourism, and family visits. Stakeholders believe that expanding rail connectivity alongside road and air travel will likely reduce both travel time and expenses for passengers.
Due to security risks, cross-border train services between Bangladesh and India were suspended on July 18, 2024, when all domestic train operations nationwide were halted. Although domestic trains resumed operations on August 12 of that year, cross-border passenger trains—including the Maitree, Mitali, and Bandhan Express—remained suspended.
According to diplomats, the current IGRM meeting is not merely a routine bilateral rail discussion; it has become crucial for restarting suspended passenger rail services. In particular, this ministry-level meeting of railway authorities in Dhaka after a prolonged hiatus, combined with the Indian High Commissioner's optimistic statements about resuming the Maitree Express, significantly reinforces the likelihood of the train returning to service.
