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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Thursday | 1 October 2026, 16 Ashswin 1433 PID registration number 06

HEADLINE

Dhaka-Kolkata rail link 'Maitree Express' set to resume soon

Published : Thursday, 1 October, 2026 at 8:36 AM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Bangladesh and India are planning to resume cross-border passenger train services, including the popular Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express, by October 2026.

The passenger train service has remained suspended since July 19, 2024, due to security concerns following political developments in Bangladesh.

During bilateral railway inter-governmental meetings (IGRM) held in September 2026, officials from both Bangladesh Railway and Indian Railways discussed the operational framework to restore the service.

Alongside the resumption, both sides have formally discussed rerouting the Maitree Express through the Padma Bridge-Benapole corridor instead of the traditional Jamuna Bridge-Darshana route.

The proposed alignment would reduce travel time between Dhaka and Kolkata by at least three hours—down to roughly six hours—while significantly lowering operational costs and passenger fares.

Final administrative approvals and political clearances are currently being finalized between Dhaka and New Delhi to announce the official date for ticket sales and operations within October.

-SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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