The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The much-awaited Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service is likely to kick-start on April 14 (Pahela Baishakh) as the two sides talked on a positive note about the formal run of the Moitree Express on the first day of the Bengali New Year.

Rail officials of Bangladesh and India expressed their optimism about commissioning the cross-border train service on April 14 after first day's meeting here yesterday.

The two-day bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Indian railway delegations began at the Rail Bhaban, trying to set the stage for operating the two-way friendship train service through restoration of one of the missing links.

ATKM Ismail, Additional Secretary of the Communications Ministry, is heading a six-member host side and RN Varma, Additional Member (Traffic) of the Indian Railway Board, leading his country's seven-member delegation to the talks.

At the end of the first-day meeting, Ismail told reporters that the Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train must start rolling on Pahela Baishakh and they were trying to resolve the unsettled issues before the envisaged date.