In a bid to strengthen bilateral ties, Indian Railways has handed over 20 Broad Gauge (BG) locomotives to Bangladesh. The digital handover ceremony held at Rail Bhavan was attended by Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnav and Bangladesh Railway Minister, Mohd Nurul Islam Sujan. This initiative complements the commitment made by the Government of India during the visit of PM Sheikh Hasina to India in October 2019. These locomotives, worth over Rs 100 crore, will help in expanding Bangladesh’s railway network and improve passenger and goods train operations.
Indian Railways has made modifications to the locomotives to meet the specific requirements of Bangladesh Railways. Both countries recognize the importance of rail connectivity for improving trade and are actively working towards strengthening cross border links.The three pairs of passenger trains currently running between India and Bangladesh have received encouraging response. These include Kolkata (Chitpore)-Dhaka Maitri Express, Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express and New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express. Governments of both countries are exploring more opportunities for exchange of passenger and cargo traffic with the aim of increasing trade and connectivity.
India and Bangladesh share strong civilizational, cultural, social and economic ties. The Prime Ministers of both countries have been actively involved in improving bilateral relations, and the Indian Railways has been playing an important role in enhancing rail connectivity and facilitating trade. The handing over of the engines underscores the commitment of the two countries to promote economic cooperation and strengthen ties.
