Travel
Mitali Express Proposed 'Mitali Express' to run between Dhaka and Jalpaiguri
Dhaka, March 22: Another train service is going to be launched between Bangladesh and India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has named the Dhaka-Jalpaiguri train 'Mitali Express'. The name will be finalized if India does not object, railway authorities said.
Railway sources said the proposed name of the new train was announced by the railways on Sunday (March 21). If all goes well, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and India is scheduled to inaugurate the train on March 27.
The train will run from both the countries two days a week. The train will leave Bangladesh on Monday and Thursday. On the other hand, it has been proposed to leave India on Sunday and Wednesday.
A new passenger train service is being launched from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, India to Dhaka on March 26, the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Rabindra Kumar Verma, DRM (Divisional Railway Manager), Katihar Division, Indian Railways, told reporters after a meeting of railway officials of the two countries.
Earlier, on April 14, 2008, on the day of Bengali New Year, the first passenger train service was launched between Kolkata and Dhaka. The 'Maitri Express' train was launched that day.
Then on November 9, 2017, the second railway service 'Bondhan Express' was launched between Kolkata and Khulna in Bangladesh. And this time on the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence on March 26, the third passenger train service from New Jalpaiguri to Dhaka Cantonment is being launched. However, the name of this train service has not been decided yet.
DRM added that the new service will run between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka two days a week. It will leave New Jalpaiguri at 2 pm on Monday and Thursday. And will leave Dhaka on Tuesday and Friday at one o'clock in the morning. The journey will take nine hours. Although the fare for this route has not been fixed yet, it is indicated that the fare for AC will be around Tk 2,000, the fare for chair coach will be around Tk 1,500 and the fare for sleeper class will be around Tk 1,200.
The distance from New Jalpaiguri to Dhaka is 530 km. Of this, 446 km is in Bangladesh. There are 84 kilometers in the Indian part. There are 15 stations in both the countries on this long journey. However, the train will not stop at any station.
