Bangladesh is restoring and expanding its railway connectivity with India, according to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam. Speaking at a conclave in India, Alam said that his government aims to bring substantial changes to the connectivity between the two countries. He announced that the pre-1965 railway links between India and Bangladesh are being almost completely restored on a priority basis, and new gas pipelines are being laid between the two nations.
The railway network between India and Bangladesh was mostly inherited from the British era. After the Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operational between India and the then East Pakistan until 1965. Currently, there are four operational rail links: Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India)-Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), and Radhikapur (India)-Birol (Bangladesh).
Alam also revealed that Bangladesh is engaged in security cooperation with India. He discussed plans with India’s DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister, G. Kishan Reddy, to hold a summit with the presence of Chief Ministers and top officials of eight northeastern Indian states in Dhaka. The summit would focus on strategies to further boost trade and economy between Bangladesh and the Northeast region.
India-Bangladesh economic partnership is expected to be further strengthened and widened for the mutual benefit of the two close neighbors. Minister of State for External Affairs, Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh, emphasized that the Indian government is focused on the three “Cs” of connectivity, commerce, and cultural ties. Furthermore, the Indian government has undertaken projects to strengthen connectivity between the northeastern region of India and South-East Asian countries.
In conclusion, the restored and expanded railway connectivity between India and Bangladesh will play a significant role in strengthening economic ties and enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
