Bangladesh and India are set to reopen train services, both freight and passenger, on the Chilahati-Haldibari route, after 55 years of suspension.
Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India will inaugurate the freight service through a video conference on December 17, marking Victory Day.
The service will create scopes of fresh trade and investment along with increasing people-to-people connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.
Besides, the passenger service between Dhaka and Shiliguri through the route will be inaugurated on March 26 on the occasion of Independence Day.
Railway Minister Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon disclosed these after Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami met him at his office on Monday.
He said an empty wagon train from Chilahati station in Nilphamari will cross the border to reach Haldibari in Jalpaiguri.
The Railway Minister also requested the Indian High Commissioner to take the necessary preparations to inaugurate the first passenger train between Dhaka and Shiliguri.
Officials concerned said the Chilahati-Haldibari service is being resumed after installation of a new rail-track on the no man's land during the last three months.
A memorandum of understanding between the Bangladesh Railway (BR) and the Indian Railways on the resumption of train service was signed in 2011 during the Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to India.
They said there has been no direct trade connectivity between Chilahati and Haldibari due to the suspension of train service since 1965. So, transporting goods, brought through Darshana station, on the new route on the inaugural day is now under consideration.
The issue is being discussed between the foreign ministries of the two countries, they added.
Meanwhile, the meeting between the Railway Minister and the Indian High Commissioner also discussed the issue of setting up an inland container depot in Sirajganj, highlighting the benefit for both sides.
They also analysed the progress of the projects, being implemented by Bangladesh Railway under the Indian Line of Credit.
Railway Secretary Selim Reza and BR Director General M Shamsuzzaman were also present in the meeting.
