By IANS
Dhaka : Poised to revive a passenger train service between Dhaka and Kolkata next month, India and Bangladesh are yet to resolve differences over their security concerns.
India wants Bangladesh to lay a metal tunnel within 150 yards from the border. Bangladesh does not want to do that.
The second dry run of the train, called Moitree Express (Friendship Express), took place Sunday from Dhaka.
The Dhaka-Kolkata train service, snapped in 1965 after the India-Pakistan war (Bangladesh was then East Pakistan), is to begin in mid-August.
The timing marks the 60th independence anniversary of India and Pakistan. But it would be subject to the settlement of unresolved issues – including the security concerns – during talks set to begin in Kolkata Sunday, New Age newspaper said.
"The Kolkata meeting is expected to set the date for launching the direct passenger train service and its frequencies between the cities… We are hopeful that the meeting will also be able to resolve other outstanding issues that include security concerns of both countries," Communications Secretary Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman told the newspaper Saturday. "We are ready for the service," he said.
Fares have been set at $8 for deluxe class, $12 for air-conditioned class and $20 for air-conditioned sleeper class for the 536 km journey, which covers 416 km in Bangladesh and 120 km in India.
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