Guwahati: The “Mitali Express” between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka was inaugurated on Wednesday by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and his Bangladesh colleague Mohammad Nurul Islam Sujon.
As he flagged of the train, the railway minister said, “The relationship between India and Bangladesh is founded on our shared heritage, our shared present, and our shared future. The great affinity between the two nations at all levels has hastened the growth that we enjoy in both countries today.”
“Mitali Express will be yet another milestone in the growth of this friendship, the development of this tie, and the improvement of this relationship,” he added.
“It’s a pleasant coincidence that Bangladesh is commemorating its 50th year of independence at the same time that India is celebrating its 75th. It is an excellent time to take steps to deepen our relationship,” he further added.
After flagging off the new train, Vaishnaw tweeted: “Towards shared heritage, shared present and shared future!”
The 13132 New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Cantonment train will run twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays. Every Monday and Thursday, train no 13131, Dhaka Cantonment-New Jalpaiguri, Mitali Express, would operate back to Dhaka. The train will take nine hours to travel 513 kilometres between New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, and Dhaka Cantonment, Bangladesh.