India, Bangladesh rail officials begin talks to resume passenger train services

India and Bangladesh began a three-day Inter-Governmental Railway Meeting (IGRM) in Dhaka to discuss resuming passenger train services suspended since 2024, while freight trains have continued operating without disruption throughout.

Bangladesh Railway’s Additional Director General (Operations), Mohammad Nazmul Islam, said connections were suspended in August 2024, but Indian freight trains have continued to operate without any hindrance. Among the three affected passenger trains, the Maitree Express ran between Dhaka Cantonment and Chitpur, Kolkata, the Bandhan Express operated between Khulna and Kolkata, and the Mitali Express ran between Dhaka Cantonment and New Jalpaiguri.

Islam said the decision on when train services will resume, or which specific services will restart, will be made only after this IGRM meeting, with subsequent steps taken based on its outcomes. From the Indian side, the Member (Traffic) of the Railway Board is attending, while Bangladesh Railway is represented by high-ranking officials and ministry representatives.

The IGRM typically covers a wide range of operational and administrative matters, including financial settlements and dues between both sides, accounting of train movements across the border, annual balancing of accounts, operational efficiency, rolling stock management and infrastructure development.

Cross-border passenger rail services were suspended amid civil unrest in Bangladesh in July 2024. Bangladesh has formally proposed not only restarting the existing services but also launching a new passenger route linking Rajshahi in Bangladesh to Kolkata. Dhaka is also expected to suggest rerouting the Maitree Express via the newly constructed Padma Bridge instead of the traditional Jamuna Bridge route, along with introducing night-time train operations and dedicated parcel booking services to boost bilateral trade and passenger convenience.

With India having resumed issuing tourist visas for Bangladeshis on June 27, public momentum has been building for the suspended trains to restart, making it a key agenda item for the current talks. India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, said good news about the Maitree Express may come soon.