Train services between Rajshahi and Kolkata are set to resume after a 77-year hiatus.
This announcement was made following a meeting between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, where they discussed several bilateral initiatives. Among the 13 initiatives announced, the revival of the Rajshahi-Kolkata train service stood out.
The news has already sparked hope among residents of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, and Naogaon.
People from various professions in these regions believe that the new train service will not only facilitate travel for the northern region, including Rajshahi, but also create a new communication link with India. This is expected to boost the economy of the Rajshahi region significantly.
Additionally, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train will enhance Rajshahi’s importance in communications with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, potentially turning Rajshahi into a hub for trade and commerce.
Furthermore, the train service will alleviate the travel difficulties faced by people from the Rajshahi region travelling to India.
Currently, there is only a cargo train connection with India through the Rohanpur railway port in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj district, which has led to renovations of railways in both countries.
Rajshahi was connected to Kolkata via rail through Malda and Murshidabad in India. However, this connection ceased in 1947 following the partition of the subcontinent into independent India and independent Pakistan. Bangladesh, as East Bengal, became the eastern province of Pakistan. Despite the interruption, a significant number of people from the Rajshahi region continue to travel to India for various purposes, such as medical treatment and tourism. The Rajshahi-Kolkata train has always been considered crucial. Thus, following the establishment of the Dhaka-Kolkata and Khulna-Kolkata routes, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train has gained even more significance.
According to sources at Western Railway, the Rajshahi-Kolkata train will traverse through Rohanpur border in Chapainawabganj, then through Singabad, Malda, Farakka, Katwa, and Khagraghat in India to reach Howrah station in Kolkata. This route covers a distance of 425km and takes approximately 11 hours. Conversely, a 215-kilometre route through the Gede border would take about five and a half hours. The exact train route has yet to be finalized, pending discussions between railway officials of both countries.
The demand for a Rajshahi-Kolkata train has been a longstanding one among the local population. This proposal was part of the election manifesto of Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, and its fulfilment has been met with widespread excitement in Rajshahi following the announcement made after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Currently, hundreds of patients from Rajshahi travel to India for medical treatment daily, and many people visit West Bengal for family reasons. Traders involved in import-export also frequently travel to Kolkata and other states.
Rajshahi-Kolkata train service to resume after 77 yearsThe introduction of a direct train service will significantly ease these journeys. Consequently, prominent figures in Rajshahi have called for the swift commencement of this promised service. Business, social, and political leaders have expressed their gratitude to Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton for fulfilling his election promise.
Liton has been advocating for the Rajshahi-Kolkata train service for a long time, making it a key point in his 2018 and 2023 election manifestos. He has consistently pressed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the railway minister for this service, including a recent request on May 10, 2024, during Railway Minister Zillul Hakim's visit to Rajshahi.
Jamat Khan, general secretary of the Rajshahi Raksha Sangram Parishad, expressed his gratitude to the prime minister and Rajshahi mayor for their efforts in initiating the train service.
He highlighted the immense benefits it would bring, particularly for patients travelling to India for treatment, adding that the train would be extremely useful and expressing overall happiness with the decision.
Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Masudur Rahman Rinku noted that travelling to India via Chuadanga's Darshana or Jessore's Benapole land ports requires taking the Khulna-bound train from Rajshahi, which is often overcrowded with passengers heading to India, causing a scarcity of tickets.
The introduction of a direct train to Kolkata will be highly beneficial, especially for patients and businesspeople. Importers and exporters will find it easier to travel through land ports, enhancing communication and trade with India.
Khairuzzaman Liton has worked tirelessly to make this train service a reality, and the community is grateful to him.
Mizanur Rahman, founder of the tourist organization Tour Moorland in Rajshahi, highlighted that tourism would also benefit from the new train service.
He mentioned that travel to India is often for medical, familial, business, and tourism purposes, and the new train will facilitate easier travel for all these reasons.
Khairuzzaman Liton, also an Awami League presidium member, mentioned that launching direct train and air links from Rajshahi to Kolkata was one of his election promises. Persistent efforts have finally paid off with the upcoming train service, which will greatly benefit the people of Rajshahi and the northern region. He also plans to work towards starting a direct flight from Rajshahi to Kolkata in the future.
Mayor Liton added that the current airport in Rajshahi could handle passenger flights to Kolkata. With plans to upgrade the airport for uranium imports for the Rooppur nuclear power plant, it will soon meet international standards, allowing for cargo and all types of passenger flights to and from India.
