Transport between India and Bangladesh#Rail links
{{Short description|Transport links between India and Bangladesh}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Transport in Bangladesh}}
File:Map Bangladesh RoadRail.png with existing rail and road links.]]
Transport between India and Bangladesh bears much historical and political significance for both countries, which possessed no ground transport links for 43 years, starting with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947. The Kolkata–Dhaka Bus (1999) and the Dhaka–Agartala Bus (2001) are the primary road links between the two countries; a direct Kolkata-Agartala running through Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh is being developed by both countries. The Maitree Express (Friendship Express) was launched to revive a railway link between Kolkata and Dhaka that had been shut for 43 years.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata-Dhaka_train_service_resumes_after_43_years/articleshow/2950159.cms |title=Kolkata-Dhaka Moitree Express flagged off |date=14 April 2008 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Times Internet Limited |access-date=21 April 2008}}
Background
=History =
{{see also | List of massacres in Bangladesh | Human_rights_in_Bangladesh#Citizenship_and_minority_rights | l2= Human rights and minority persecution in Bangladesh }}
The partition of Bengal and India on 15 August 1947 led to the establishment of the Indian state of West Bengal; East Bengal became a province of the state of Pakistan. The hostile bilateral relations between the two nations made transport links very limited, despite the cultural and commercial links between West and East Bengal. At the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the only railway link between Dhaka and Kolkata was shut down, and not resumed until 2008 with the launch of the Maitree Express.
After the establishment of Bangladesh following the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, bilateral relations improved considerably, but the two governments moved slowly on implementing a 1980 agreement on improving transport links.{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990618/ige18050.html |title=Bus maps the route to better Indo-Bangla ties |last=Malhotra |first=Jyoti |date=18 June 1999 |work=expressindia.com |publisher=The Indian Express |access-date=21 April 2008}} In the 1990s, the Indian and Bangladeshi governments collaborated to open bus services between Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and one of the largest cities in India, and Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. In 2001, another bus service was launched to connect Dhaka with Agartala, the capital of the Indian state of Tripura the second largest city of Northeast India that borders Bangladesh in the east.
=India-Bangladesh borders=
Both share physical land as well as maritime borders:
=International transport connection frameworks =
{{anchor | ITCF | Framework | Frameworks |International transport connection frameworks }}
{{see also | South Asian Free Trade Area }}
India's Look-East connectivity policy has resulted in the launch of several connectivity projects with neighbouring countries to the east, including Bangladesh, Myanmar and ASEAN nations.
India-Bangladesh transport and other strategic inter-linkages, such as energy and internet, etc are driven by both the bilateral agreements as well as the following international cooperation frameworks many of which are facilitated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):[https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Bangladesh_17.pdf Bangladesh rail connectivity], UNESCAP, accessed 23 Apr 2025.
Aerial services
{{anchor | Air }}
{{see also | Civil aviation in India | Civil_Aviation_Authority_of_Bangladesh#CA| l2= Civil aviation in Bangladesh }}
=Cities connected =
{{anchor | CDC }}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Direct air connections between Bangladeshi and Indian cities (as of 2025) | |||
| Bangladeshi City | Indian City | Bangladeshi Airlines | Indian Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4" | Chittagong | Delhi | None | SpiceJet |
| Kolkata | Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Regent Airways, US-Bangla Airlines | None | |
| Mumbai | None | SpiceJet | |
| Chennai | US-Bangla Airlines (via Chittagong) | IndiGo | |
| rowspan="5" | Dhaka | Delhi | Biman Bangladesh Airlines | Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet |
| Guwahati | None | SpiceJet (Discontinued) | |
| Kolkata | Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair, Regent Airways, US-Bangla Airlines | IndiGo | |
| Mumbai | None | Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet | |
| Chennai | US-Bangla Airlines (via Chittagong) | IndiGo |
=Airlines between India-Bangladesh=
{{anchor | AAC }}
Railway
{{see also | Bangladesh Railway | Indian Railway }}
The complete rail links, including the historical links, between India & Bangladesh and their current status is as follows:
=Rail service by crossing points =
{{anchor | RSCP }}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Crossing Point (India) !Crossing Point (Bangladesh) !Status !Current train services !Historical train services !Ref |
| Gede, West Bengal
|Active |Maitree Express and freight trains |
| Petrapole, West Bengal
|Active |
| Singhabad, West Bengal
|Active | |
| Radhikapur, West Bengal
|Active | |
| Haldibari, West Bengal
|Active | |
| Changrabandha, West Bengal
|Inactive | | | |
| Mahisasan, Assam
|Being restored |
| Agartala, Tripura
|Active | | |
| Belonia, Tripura
|Feni |Under construction | | |
=Rail service by frontiers =
{{anchor | RSF }}
The Bangladesh border is conceptualised as consisting of two frontiers, east and west, separated by Brahmaputra River (the lower end of which is also called the Padma River) flowing north to south through the centre of Bangladesh, dividing the nation into two vertical halves.
{{reflist|group=rail-note}}
=Details of rail services=
{{anchor | DRS }}
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Train Name | Year Started | Route | Distance | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maitree Express | 2008 | {{rws|Kolkata}} – {{rws|Dhaka Cantonment}} | 393 km | 5 days a week | First passenger rail service between India and Bangladesh after 43 years |
| Bandhan Express | 2017 | {{rws|Kolkata}} – {{rws|Khulna}} via Petrapole–Benapole border | N/A | N/A | Recreates route of defunct Barisal Express; added {{rws|Jessore Junction}} stop in 2019 |
| Mitali Express | 2021 | New Jalpaiguri railway station – Dhaka Cantonment railway station via Haldibari–Chilahati border | N/A | Bi-weekly | Launched during Bangladesh's independence golden jubilee celebrations |
=Proposed new rail connections=
{{anchor | PNR }}
{{see also | Kaladan_Multi-Modal_Transit_Transport_Project#Northeast railway connectivity projects
| label 1 = Northeast railway connectivity projects}}
On 28 October 2017, Bangladesh Railway Minister Mujibal Haque said that India and Bangladesh are working on reconnecting railway lines in 12 places, which were cut off after partition of the country in 1947. India sponsored rail bridges on Titas and the Bhoirab rivers in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh were completed.[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/india-and-bangladesh-to-restore-snapped-railway-lines-mujibal-haque/articleshow/61292620.cms "India and Bangladesh to restore snapped railway lines: Mujibal Haque"], The Economic Times 28 October 2017.
Roads
=Road corridors=
Since the 1980s, the Indian and Bangladeshi governments have sought to negotiate an agreement permitting commercial vehicles to pass through Bangladeshi highways to reach the northeastern states of India from the west; a concept described in India as the "Bangla Corridor."{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1017981 |title=Kolkata-Agartala bus link gets a major push forward |last=Abdi |first=SNM |date=13 March 2006 |work=dnaindia.com |publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd |access-date=21 April 2008}} Such an arrangement is being promoted for its benefit to bilateral commerce, the transport cost reduction for Indian businesses and additional revenue for Bangladesh.{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980702/18350444.html |title=Calcutta-Dhaka passenger bus route soon |date=2 July 1998 |work=expressindia.com |publisher=The Indian Express |access-date=21 April 2008}} In 2006, both governments began working on a proposal to provide a bus service directly connecting Kolkata with Agartala, the capital of the Indian state of Tripura, which borders eastern Bangladesh.{{cite news |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1248476/bangladesh_to_propose_new_bus_service_linking_two_indian_cities/ |title=Bangladesh to Propose New Bus Service Linking Two Indian Cities |last=Islam |first=Zahedul |work=redOrbit |publisher=redOrbit.com |access-date=21 April 2008}} As of 2007, travelling distance through Indian territory is an estimated {{convert|1700|km|mi|abbr=on|0}}, but a direct road link via Dhaka would shorten the travelling distance to an estimated {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on|0}}, considerably reducing the costs of transport for Indian businesses, which have to transport goods and services through the narrow "Chicken's Neck" territory that is bordered by northern Bangladesh and southern Nepal. However, such an arrangement has been politically sensitive in Bangladesh.
==Existing corridors==
Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala route: On 2 June 2015, the first trial run of a direct bus between Kolkata and Agartala ran, a route distance of 500 km, as compared to the 1650 km if it ran through the Chicken's Neck to remain within India. This bus made an overnight stop in Dhaka.{{cite news|title=Kolkata-Agartala Bus Reaches Tripura on Trial Run|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kolkata-agartala-bus-reaches-tripura-on-trial-run-768059|access-date=13 June 2015|work=NDTV|date=2 June 2015}} General service began on 7 June, and the first bus was flagged off by political leaders including Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Bannerjee.{{cite news|last1=Khanna|first1=Rohit|title=Kolkata-Agartala bus service via Dhaka flagged off|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kolkata-Agartala-bus-service-via-Dhaka-flagged-off/articleshow/47570651.cms|access-date=13 June 2015|work=Times of India|date=7 June 2015}}
==Proposed new road corridors ==
| class="wikitable"
|+ Proposed India-Bangladesh cross-border transport corridors ! Scope !! Project !! Route !! Status !! Purpose !! Reference | |||||
| rowspan="1" | East-to-West | Delhi–Dhaka–Yangon Trilateral Highway | Delhi → Kolkata → Dhaka → Myanmar | Conceptualized under BIMSTEC | Pan-regional connectivity | "BIMSTEC pushes India-Bangladesh-Myanmar highway." The Diplomat, 2021. |
| rowspan="2" | West Frontier | Bhanga–Kolkata Expressway (via Padma Bridge) | Dhaka → Bhanga → Petrapole → Kolkata | Under discussion (2023) | Reduce Dhaka-Kolkata travel to 6-7 hours | "India-Bangladesh plan expressway via Padma Bridge." The Daily Star, 2023. |
| Hili-Dinajpur Economic Corridor | Hili → Dinajpur → Bogura → Dhaka | Proposed under BBIN MVA | Connect NW Bangladesh with West Bengal | "Hili-Dinajpur route to ease cargo movement." The Financial Express, 2022. | |
| rowspan="2" | East Frontier | Silchar-Sylhet Highway | Silchar → Sutarkandi → Sheola → Sylhet | Approved (2022) | Northeast India to Chittagong Port | "Silchar-Sylhet road link to boost trade." The Hindu, 2022. |
| Agartala-Chittagong Corridor | Agartala → Akhaura → Chittagong Port | MoU signed (2023) | Northeast connectivity to Chittagong | "Agartala-Chittagong road link to cut Northeast's isolation." The Economic Times, 2023. |
=Bus service =
==Existing bus services ==
{{anchor | EBS }}
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Route | Frequency | Travel Time | Route Details | Operators | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka→Kolkata (West Bengal) | Daily | ~12 hours | Dhaka→Benapole (Bangladesh)→Petrapole (India)→Kolkata | West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) | "Dhaka-Kolkata bus service resumes after 20 months." The Daily Star, 2022. |
| Dhaka–Agartala (Tripura) | Daily | ~3 hours | Dhaka → Akhaura (Bangladesh) → Agartala (India) | BRTC & Tripura Road Transport Corporation | "Dhaka-Agartala bus service launched." The Hindu, 2015. |
| Kolkata–Dhaka–Guwahati (Assam) | Operational (limited trips) | ~?? hours | Kolkata → Dhaka → Sylhet → Dawki (India) → Guwahati | WBTC & BRTC | "India-Bangladesh bus service to Guwahati begins." The Times of India, 2018. |
| Siliguri (West Bengal)–Dhaka | Operational (limited trips) | ~?? hours | Siliguri → Fulbari (India) → Banglabandha (Bangladesh) → Dhaka | Private carriers (e.g., Shyamoli Transport) | "Siliguri-Dhaka bus service via Panitanki." The Telegraph India, 2019. |
==Proposed Bus Services==
{{anchor | PBS }}
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Route | Proposed Route Details | Status/Comments | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata–Chittagong | Kolkata → Petrapole → Dhaka → Chittagong | Boost trade/tourism to Bangladesh's port city | "India-Bangladesh to launch Chittagong-Kolkata bus." bdnews24.com, 2021. |
| Shillong (Meghalaya)–Sylhet | Shillong → Dawki → Tamabil (Bangladesh) → Sylhet | Under discussion (2023) | "Shillong-Sylhet bus link proposed." The Shillong Times, 2023. |
| Delhi–Dhaka (via Varanasi) | Delhi → Varanasi → Kolkata → Dhaka | Long-distance; may combine rail/bus | "Delhi-Dhaka bus service plan under review." The Business Standard, 2022. |
==Details of select bus services ==
{{anchor | BSD }}
| class="wikitable"
! Route !! Launch Date !! Operators !! Frequency & Timings !! Distance !! Duration !! Notes | ||||||
| Kolkata–Dhaka | 19 June 1999 | WBSTC & BRTC (also by private AC buses, e.g. Shohagh, Green Line, etc.) | * From Dhaka: Mon, Wed, Fri at 7:00 am & 7:30 am
| * India: 80 km
| * ~12.5 hrs | * Facilitates family visits & commerce
|
| Dhaka–Agartala | 11 July 2001 | BRTC & Indian counterpart | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Connects Bangladesh with Indian state of Tripura. |
Shipping
{{ see also | List of Bangladesh-India transboundary rivers | Freedom of navigation | United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea | l3= United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)}}
Bangladesh and India signed agreement to use 2 ports in Bangladesh - Mongla Port and Chittagong Port to be used for the following 4 transit routes to Northeast India:[https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ports-shipping/bangladesh-allows-four-transit-routes-to-india/102479998 Bangladesh allows four transit routes to India.], ET Infra, 6 Aug 2023.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Port | Routes | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" | Chittagong Port
| Chittagong Port-Akhaura-Agartala | | ||
| Chittagong-Bibirbazar-Srimantapur
| | ||
| rowspan="2" | Mongla Port
| Mongla Port-Akhaura-Agartala | | ||
| Mongla Port-Bibirbazar-Srimantapur
| |
Other connections
=Energy=
See India-Bangladesh's existing and proposed electricity grid (see also Adani Power supply to Bangladesh),{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2017-11-08|title=Adani Power inks PPA with Bangladesh Power Development Board|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/adani-power-inks-ppa-with-bangladesh-power-development-board-117110801302_1.html|access-date=2020-05-05}} Bangladesh-India Friendship pipeline (BIFP, 130 km long diesel supply to Bangladesh),{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-sheikh-hasina-inaugurate-india-bangladesh-oil-pipeline-construction-1343280-2018-09-19 | title=PM Modi, Sheikh Hasina inaugurate India-Bangladesh oil pipeline construction | magazine=India Today | access-date=11 December 2024 | archive-date=14 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614022104/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-sheikh-hasina-inaugurate-india-bangladesh-oil-pipeline-construction-1343280-2018-09-19 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-use-of-bangladesh-ports-for-indian-shipments-to-north-east/1316609/ | title=Cabinet approves use of Bangladesh ports for Indian shipments to North-East | work=The Financial Express | date=17 September 2018 | access-date=11 December 2024 | archive-date=1 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201181352/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-use-of-bangladesh-ports-for-indian-shipments-to-north-east/1316609/ | url-status=live }} proposed Myanmar-Bangladesh-India LNG pipeline (to supply LNG from Myanmar to Bangladesh and Tripura in India), and internet connectivity.[https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/plans-underway-revive-lng-pipeline-linking-india-myanmar-and-bangladesh Plans Underway to Revive LNG Pipeline Linking India to Myanmar and Bangladesh], 29 Jan 2023.
=Internet=
In 2025, while Bangladesh provides internet connectivity to Northeast India, a proposal for India to directly route internet cables through Bangladesh to Northeast Asia was declined. Bangladesh opted to maintain authority over the traffic traversing its territory via its own monitoring agencies, leading India to explore alternative solutions for its connectivity needs.[https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ports-shipping/bangladesh-allows-four-transit-routes-to-india/102479998 Bangladesh caps Indian bandwidth imports at 50%, aiming to boost submarine cable usage to 70% and allocate 10% to satellite], ET infra, 21 Feb 2025.
See also
External links
- [https://i0.wp.com/www.insightsonindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BBIN.jpg?resize=1303%2C859 Map of India-Bangladesh border links]
- [https://foxparcel.com/ Fox Parcel: Cargo to Bangladesh from India]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bangladesh-India relations}}
Category:Transport in Bangladesh