broad gAUge locos sent from indiA to Bangladesh

AS evidence of an improving bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh, a virtual ceremony took place at Rail Bhavan New Delhi, India where 20 broad gauge (BG) locomotives were officially handed over to Bangladesh. The ceremony was attended by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Indian Minister of Railways, who flagged off the locomotives, and Mohammed Nurul Islam Sujan, Minister of Railway from Bangladesh, who joined virtually. The event was also attended by AK Lahoti, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, other Board Members, senior officials of the Railway Board and delegates from Bangladesh.

These diesel locomotives, provided as grant assistance from the Government of India, fulfil an important commitment made during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh to India in September 2022. To meet the requirements of Bangladesh Railway, the Indian side has made suitable modifications to the locomo- tives. These locomotives will greatly contribute to the handling of the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh.

During the ceremony, Vaishnaw emphasised the civilisational, cultural, social, and economic relationship between India and Bangladesh. He highlighted the proactive roles played by the prime ministers of both countries in improving bilateral relations across various sectors. Indian Railways also play a vital role in enhancing rail connectivity and trade between the two nations. Currently, five broad gauge connectivities are operational, namely Geda-Darsana, Benapol-Petrapol, Singhabad-Rohanpur, Radhikapur-Birol, and Haldibari-Chilahati. Work on two more cross-border rail connectivities, Akhaura-Agartala and Mahihasan-Shahbazpur, is progressing well and is expected to be completed and commissioned soon.

In his virtual address, Sujan expressed his gratitude to the Indian Government for their support. He acknowledged the previous grant of 10 locomotives provided by the Indian Government in June 2020 and expressed heartfelt appreciation for the provision of the broad gauge locomotives.

He emphasised that the supply of locomotives would enhance both goods and passenger train services.

He also expressed hope for further collaboration between the two countries in the railway sector.

To foster people-to-people contact, three pairs of passenger trains are currently operating between India and Bangladesh, namely Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express, Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express and New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express.

Rail trade between the two countries has experienced consistent growth, with the interchange of nearly 100 cargo trains per month.

Approximately 2.66 million tonnes of cargo were sent to Bangladesh in the last financial year. The export commodities include stone, food grains, china clay, gypsum, maize, onions and other essential items.

Since 2020, permission has been granted to operate parcel containers and NMG rakes, which usually carry agricultural products, fabrics, finished goods, light commercial vehicles, and tractors. Additionally, a new traffic of geo-synthetic bags has recently commenced and three oarcel trains have been sent from Gujarat.

As part of India's commitment to improving rail services in Bangladesh, 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives were previously handed over on a grant basis in July 2020. According to reports from Bangladesh, these locomotives have been performing well and have contributed significantly to the smooth movement of rail traffic in Bangladesh.