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Train from Bangla arrives in Kolkata

          Kolkata: The trial train from Bangladesh has arrived in Kolkata. This marks the first trial run of bilateral rail services after a gap of 42 years. The train called the "Moitree" (Friendship) Express, carried 30 Bangladeshi officials, and reached the Gede Railway Station in India on Sunday. Bangladesh's Additional Secretary for Communications, A T K M Ismail, said: "This has been our long desire. Our people want to come, and their (India's) people want to go. This is going to resolve many of the needed things. Both countries will be mutually benefited." Ismail is leading a delegation, comprising of Home, Communication and Foreign Ministry officials. During their visit, the two sides are expected to discuss issues pertaining to the resumption of a trans-national train service between Kolkata and Dhaka, besides finalising the date for the official launching of the train service. Bangladesh hopes regular passenger train services will be launched by mid-August between Dhaka and Kolkata. The non-stop train service will link Dhaka's Cantonment Station with Kolkata's Chitpur Station.

          On July 26, the Indian Railways conducted a trial run of the train from Kolkata to Gede, the last station on India's international border with Bangladesh to check passenger facilities and security aspects. A trial run of the Indian train was held at the beginning of this month. A passenger train service between the two cities was introduced towards the end of the Awami League Government in July 2001. One train had run on trial basis, but the service was cancelled after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led coalition came to power. Kolkata and Dhaka are currently connected by air and bus services. The train is expected to cover a distance of 345 kilometres between Dhaka and Kolkata in 12 hours. The train service was suspended during the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan, and was referred to as East Pakistan.
- July 30,  2007