Bangladesh-India passenger trains remain halted despite multiple attempts

Due to Delhi's reluctance, inter-country passenger train services on all three existing routes between Bangladesh and India have remained suspended for over a month and a half.

Although Dhaka has sent several proposals to resume the rail service, Delhi has not yet responded, according to railway officials in Bangladesh. However, after repeated efforts, India allowed freight trains to operate from 20 August.

Earlier, on 18 July, train movement was halted across the country, including cross-border services, due to a "complete shutdown" enforced by students protesting the quota system in government services.

Short-distance trains resumed on 1 August but were halted again on 3 August as protests intensified.

Freight trains resumed operation on 12 August, days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Mail, express, local, and commuter trains began operating on 13 August, with intercity trains resuming service on 15 August.

Despite multiple attempts by the Bangladesh Railway to resume passenger services, the Indian Railway Board has not granted permission to this end.

In this regard, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Sardar Shahadat Ali told The Business Standard on Thursday, "Freight train operations have resumed between the two countries since 20 August, but there has been no progress on passenger trains despite our repeated efforts."

He continued, "We have sent letters but have received no response from the Indian side. Therefore, we have informed the foreign ministry, which will now hold talks with India. We hope to receive updates soon."

Failing to obtain permission from the Indian Railway authorities, the Bangladesh Railway decided to address the issue through government high-ups and sent a letter to the foreign ministry on 19 August.

TBS has obtained a copy of the letter, which states that Indian Railways had been requested to send light engines from 12 August to take empty wagons from Bangladesh.

However, no light engines have been sent, nor has any action been taken to get back the empty wagons.

The letter further notes that 255 empty wagons are currently waiting at various stations, occupying yard lines and disrupting normal operations.

Additionally, while the Bangladesh Railways granted permission for loaded rakes to be sent from India to Bangladesh on 12 August via various interchange routes, no loaded trains have been dispatched.

On the same day, 19 August, the Bangladesh Railway's operations department sent a separate letter to the Indian Railways' operations department regarding the running of freight trains.

This time, Bangladesh Railway received no objections from its Indian counterpart.

As a result, from 20 August, the empty wagons stuck in Bangladesh were able to enter India, and goods wagons stuck in India were allowed to enter Bangladesh.

In the letter to the foreign ministry, the Bangladesh Railway also addressed the issue of passenger trains.

It noted that the Mithali Express (Indian rake) running between Bangladesh and India arrived at Dhaka Cantonment station from New Jalpaiguri on the night of 17 July.

The train was scheduled to depart for New Jalpaiguri on the night of 18 July but could not operate due to the unrest. The empty rake of the Mithali Express is currently stationed at Dhaka Railway Station.

The inter-country Mithali Express between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri, Maitree Express between Dhaka and Kolkata, and Bandhan Express between Khulna and Kolkata remain closed."

Finally, the letter requested the foreign ministry to take necessary measures to resume inter-country passenger train services between Bangladesh and India. However, India has yet to make a decision regarding passenger train operations.

When contacted, an official from the South Asia Wing of the foreign ministry, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "India has already permitted the operation of freight trains. Further talks with India are ongoing. India will inform us once they reach a final decision from their high authority. Nothing more can be said at this time."

On Saturday, Nahid Hasan Khan, director of public relations at Bangladesh Railway, said, "The matter will now be decided at the government level, as it is handled by the foreign ministry. They are working on it, and we have not been informed of any developments so far."