Bangladesh to Propose Launching a New Rajshahi–Kolkata Train Service

Special Correspondent

Dhaka, September 8, 2026: The Bangladesh government is going to propose to India to start a completely new passenger train service on the Rajshahi-Kolkata route, in addition to resuming three closed inter-country train services. The proposal will be raised at the two-day Bangladesh-India Railways annual meeting that began in Dhaka, railway sources said.

Main agenda of the meeting

According to Bangladesh Railway sources, three main issues will be of importance in this meeting, which will begin on Tuesday:

• Discussions on resuming the Maitree, Bandhan and Mitali Expresses. If the two countries agree, the trains could resume operations from next October.
• Bangladesh will present a proposal to launch a new train service on the Rajshahi-Kolkata route.
• Bangladesh Railways will also express its interest in operating the Maitree Express via the Padma Bridge. It is worth noting that even after the Padma Bridge was opened, the train has been running via the Jamuna Bridge until now.

Background

In July 2024, due to political unrest in the country, the operation of three inter-country passenger trains – Maitree, Bandhan and Mitali – was suspended. This suspension is still mentioned on the Bangladesh Railway website. After being closed for almost two years, efforts to resume rail communication between the two countries have intensified in recent times.

Railway officials said that Indian Railways is also interested in restarting the three trains. However, the consent of the railway authorities of the two countries alone is not enough – the opinion of other relevant departments, including the foreign and home ministries of the two countries, will also be required. Representatives of these ministries will also participate in the meeting. Officials say that the final decision to resume inter-country train services will come from the political stage.

History of routes

• The Maitree Express was launched on the Dhaka-Kolkata route on the first day of Baishakh in 2008.
• The Bandhan Express was launched on the Khulna-Kolkata route in November 2017.
• The Mitali Express started its journey from Dhaka to New Jalpaiguri, India, in June 2022.

Possible schedule

Railway sources say that if the two countries reach a consensus in the meeting, the movement of the three trains can resume by the beginning of next October, which is expected to be possible before Durga Puja. However, the final decision will require the approval of the relevant ministries of the two countries. If the new Rajshahi-Kolkata route is implemented, it will be a new addition to the rail connectivity between the two countries, which will establish a direct connection between the Rajshahi region and West Bengal.