CHUADANGA, July 7 (UNB): A trial train carrying a 30-member Indian official delegation will arrive today (Sunday) at Darshana station near the border to advance talks on Dhaka-Kolkata train service.
Senior officials of Home and Railway ministries are scheduled to meet their Bangladeshi counterparts in Dhaka tomorrow and Tuesday (July 9-10). A delegation from Bangladesh will go to Kolkata later this month for the final round of talks before opening the train service sometime late August, officials said.
Darshana stationmaster Belal Hossain told the news agency that the Indian team would arrive at 10:40 am. Railway and customs officials will receive the guests and together inspect the arrangements for immigration and customs checks at Darshana. Later, the delegation will leave for Dhaka for formal talks.
Officials said a Bangladesh delegation would visit Kolkata for the final round of discussion next month where the date of opening of much-talked-about Dhaka-Kolkata train service will be announced.
According to the latest decision, railway officials here said that initially the train service would be for once or twice weekly. Passengers from Bangladesh will board at Kurmitola station in Dhaka. The train will run non-stop to the border where the engine and crew will be changed for onward journey to Kolkata.
"Doors of the train will not be opened anywhere on the way up to the border. It is yet to be decided if the customs and immigration checks will be done at Kurmitola or Darshana station," said and official.
30-member Indian team due at Darshana today
FE Team | Published: July 08, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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