After 55 years, the Indo-Bangladesh railway was opened from North Bengal

Aaj Khabor (English), New Delhi & Dhaka, India & Bangladesh, 17/12/2020 : The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the Haldibari-Chilahati Railway.

Besides the railways, the Prime Ministers of the two countries also inaugurated the 'Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition' and issued a stamp in memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The whole event of railroads, digital exhibitions and stamp unveiling has been made virtual. On the occasion, Narendra Modi told Sheikh Hasina, "Bangabandhu's words and messages are eternal to us, his imprint as Bangabandhu's legacy is observed in you. I am proud to inaugurate a digital exhibition in the name of Mahatma Gandhi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman." Today, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has congratulated the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on the new railway and 'Poush Parvan' in Bengali.

In 1971, India defeated the Pakistani army and helped create an independent state of Bangladesh. Yesterday, India celebrated 'Victory Day' to mark the 50th anniversary of that day, and the next day, the two neighboring countries inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Railway and the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital Exhibition.

Today, after 55 years from North Bengal, the railways of India and Bangladesh are open again. The railway was closed during the 1965 war. There are a total of 5 railways between India and Bangladesh. At the moment, 4 railways are connecting the two countries.The first is through Bangaon to Petrapole (India) -Benapole (Bangladesh), the second to Gede (India) -Darshana (Bangladesh), the third to Singabad (India) -Rohanpur (Bangladesh) and the fourth to Radhikapur (India) -Birol (Bangladesh).

There is already a Haldibari railway line from New Jalpaiguri station in North Bengal to Jalpaiguri which reaches Haldibari in Kochbihar in the border area of ​​the country. This time the train will cross the Bangladesh border from that Haldibari to Chilahati station in Bangladesh. After the opening of this railway line, moving from Bangladesh to Nepal will be of great benefit.Because the Chilahati-Haldibari railway from Bangladesh can be reached at New Jalpaiguri station, a short distance from there to the town of Siliguri and from there it is very easy to cross the Panitanki-Kankarvita international border and enter Nepal. Therefore, the importance of this Haldibari-Chilahati international railway is immense to the two countries. (Watch video)