Bangladesh approves train link with Sealdah

Bangladesh’s caretaker government has approved in principle the proposal to introduce a train link between Joydevpur, near capital Dhaka, and Sealdah in West Bengal. A three-year agreement regarding the service was first signed on July 12, 2001 and it was extended again in 2004. The agreement expires in July this year, Syed Fahim Munaim, the Chief Adviser’s press secretary said. He said India was eager to further extend the agreement up to 2010 and start the train service on a regular basis, but the service had been out of operation due to lack of adequate infrastructure.

“Basically it will not be a new agreement…rather a renewal of the existing one,” Munaim said, adding goods train service with India is in operation although irregularly. He said both countries were eager to introduce the passenger and goods train service and officials of both the countries would meet soon to review the condition of the train line, infrastructure problems and other technical aspects. Bangladesh, he added, would seriously examine whether the train service would benefit it or not, although India wants renewal of the agreement before its expiry. Munaem said a meeting of the advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair also approved the proposals regarding establishment of the South Asian University (SAU) and SAARC Food Bank. Bangladesh will sign the agreements on SAU and the Food Bank at the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi beginning Tuesday.