The Mitali Express, the inter-country train service connecting Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri in India, has returned to India after being suspended for nearly five months.
The train re-entered India through the Chilahati-Haldibari border on Wednesday morning amid heightened security measures, according to Western Railway sources.
The disruption was caused by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bangladesh.
However, it remains uncertain when the train service will resume operations between the two countries.
The Mitali Express, designated as train number 13132/31, originally left New Jalpaiguri for Dhaka on July 17 but had been unable to return due to the political unrest.
Launched on June 1, 2022, the Mitali Express is a vital passenger link between the two nations.
The train, which operates with valid passport and visa requirements, departs from New Jalpaiguri on Sundays and Wednesdays at 11:45pm (Indian time) and arrives in Dhaka at 10pm.
It returns from Dhaka on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:50pm, reaching New Jalpaiguri at 7am the following day.
The train entered India's Haldibari station from Chilahati in Nilphamari, Bangladesh, with assistance from a Bangladesh Railway engine.
Once in Haldibari, the coaches were handed over to Indian authorities, and the engine returned to Chilahati.
The returned coaches included four AC berths, four AC chair cars, and two power cars with brake vans.
Chilahati Station Master Haider Ali confirmed the development, saying: "The Mitali Express was stuck in Dhaka due to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Bangladesh Railway delivered the empty coaches to India on Wednesday morning."
The Mitali Express resumed operations on the Haldibari-Chilahati route in June 2022 after a hiatus of 57 years, marking a significant milestone in cross-border connectivity. The route had been non-operational since 1965.
The recent suspension highlights the challenges faced by such services during periods of political instability.
Authorities in both countries have yet to announce a timeline for the resumption of regular operations.
