The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

Customs and immigration hassles mainly on the Indian territory and long travel time have taken away much of initial euphoria of the people intending to visit either Bangladesh or India by the Dhaka-Kolkata train service styled "Maitry Express".

Many people of the two neighbouring countries were ecstatic when the Maitry Express was launched on Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, amid much fanfare and hope.

The train service between Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and India was snapped close on the heels of the war between the two countries in 1965. Naturally, people felt elated when the Maitry Express was introduced after a lapse of 43 years.

Affordable fares, comfort of travel and safety of journey from the point of accident and other hazards inspired many of the people to avail themselves of this train service to visit either of the two countries.

Moitree charges Tk 560 for Shovan chair, Tk 840 for AC chair and Tk 1,400 for AC cabin as against Tk 1,500 for travel by bus.

Despite cheap fares and other facilities many now feel discouraged to travel by Moitree as it takes twelve hours and a half to Chitpur Railway Station on the outskirts of Kolkata, capital of the Indian state of West Bengal from the Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station. The distance between the two terminal points is 538 kilometres of which 418 kilometres are within Bangladesh.

Unfriendly behaviour of the customs and immigration officials at Gede check point in West Bengal serves as irritant for underaking journey by train, according to some sufferers.

Completion of customs and immigration formalities take nearly five hours on both sides, according to passengers.

Rafiqul Bashar, a Kolkata-bound passenger from Dhaka, told The New Nation that train journey by Moitree Express would be more enjoyable and attractive if the customs and immigration formalities are completed on board the train.

He further said one can reach Kolkata in nine hours from Dhaka by bus. Journey time by train can be cut by three to four hours if the customs formalities are carried out with the train, he suggested.

Kali Kanta, Assistant Director of Bangladesh Railway, said they have written to the Indian authority for a meeting to devise means reduce travel time to 10 and a half hours from 12 and a half hours.

The once a week Moitree Express has not yet been able to attract passengers to the level of expectation. The trains between the two countries carry passengers much below their capacity. The Kolkata-bound train from Dhaka has 418 seats.

It carried 131 passengers from the Dhaka Cantonment Station on Sunday. Only 59 passengers came to Dhaka from the other end the same day. The Dhaka bound train from Kolkata has 367 seats, according to sources.

The fragile tourism industry will get a boost if the train facilities between the two countries are improved and updated keeping in view the hopes of the passengers.