2024-07-26 15:41:47
Due to the volatile situation caused by the quota reform movement, the operation of the Maitri Express train on the Dhaka-Kolkata route was suspended. Although the curfew has been relaxed, India has postponed the launch of the Maitri Express citing insecurity.
Trade between the two countries has somewhat normalized under existing conditions. Petrapol-Benapole land port has already been commissioned. Import-export between the two countries has started from Wednesday (July 24). But, the Maitri Express that runs between the two countries is not running now.
According to the Indian Railway Department, the train service from Kolkata to Dhaka and from Dhaka to Kolkata will not be started on Saturday (July 27).
Indian Railways informed on Thursday (July 25), according to information received from Bangladesh Railways, 13108 Kolkata-Dhaka Maitri Express scheduled to leave Kolkata on July 27 and 13110 Dhaka-Kolkata Maitri Express scheduled to reach Kolkata on July 27, will remain cancelled. Those who bought tickets in advance will be given full refund. If someone loses a ticket, they will not get a refund.
The whole of Bangladesh was recently heated up by the students’ movement demanding quota reform. As a result, India stopped exports to Bangladesh through Petrapol port last Saturday (July 20). The administration of the country informed that the internet service is closed in Bangladesh. Because of that Indian businessmen could not communicate with the businessmen. Due to this, import-export was stopped. Cargo trucks and cars lined up at Petrapole as exports stopped. Businessmen and Petrapol port workers were worried.
On the other hand, on July 19, the Bangladesh government canceled the movement of Maitri Express and Bandhan Express traveling between Kolkata-Khulna. The Indian Railway Department said that the decision was upheld. According to them, at the moment, the issue of railway movement is completely dependent on the Bangladesh government. If they give the green signal, the rail service will start in the next few days between the two countries.