By Firstdespatch Desk May 24, 2023
New Delhi, May 24 (FD) In a virtual handover ceremony held at Rail Bhavan, New Delhi, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, flagged off 20 Broad Gauge (BG) locomotives to Bangladesh. The Minister of Railways, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, joined the event virtually from Bangladesh. The ceremony was attended by A.K. Lahoti, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, board members, senior officials of the Railway Board, and delegates from Bangladesh.
These diesel locomotives have been suitably modified by the Indian side to meet the requirements of the Bangladesh Railway. Their introduction will significantly contribute to handling the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh. The locomotives will help improve rail connectivity, enhance trade, and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “The deep-rooted and multifaceted relationship between India and Bangladesh, spanning civilization, culture, society, and economy. He highlighted the proactive role played by the prime ministers of both countries in strengthening bilateral ties across various sectors. Indian railways have also played a vital role in improving rail connectivity and trade between the two nations. Currently, five BG connectivity routes are operational, and two more cross-border rail connections are progressing well”.
Bangladesh Railways Minister, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, expressed gratitude to the Indian Government for their support, acknowledging the previous grant of 10 locomotives provided in June 2020. He emphasized the positive impact of these locomotives on both goods and passenger trains and expressed hope for further collaboration in the railway sector.
The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh through rail has witnessed consistent growth, with approximately 100 cargo trains exchanged per month. In the last financial year, around 2.66 million tons of cargo was transported to Bangladesh from India. The export commodities include stone, DOC, food grains, China clay, gypsum, maize, onions, and other essential items.
To enhance people-to-people contact, three pairs of passenger trains currently operate between India and Bangladesh: the Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express, the Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express, and the New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express.
The successful handover of the locomotives further strengthens the collaboration between India and Bangladesh in the railway sector and paves the way for increased trade and connectivity between the two countries. FD SB JK