Neighbouring India can use Bangladesh rail lines to carry goods and passengers across its territory, and Bangladesh can carry goods and passengers to Nepal, Bhutan and India using Indian rail lines, according to the newly announced railway connectivity Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Bangladesh and Indian Railway during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent India visit.
In Bangladesh, there is speculation that the Indian government can carry military weapons or ammunition through Bangladeshi rail lines from one country to another, particularly from Delhi or Kolkata to its seven sisters.
However, the rail ministry officials, who are familiar with this agreement, rejected these speculations and stated that Bangladesh Railway meticulously drafted the contract, prohibiting the transportation of any destructive goods or products inside Indian rail wagons through Bangladeshi territory.
Rumours are also rife in Bangladesh, suggesting that Indian soldiers might be permitted to guard their rail wagons once the rail route becomes operational. However, the Bangladeshi railway authorities have refuted these rumours, asserting that the domestic law and enforcement agencies in Bangladesh will maintain the security of the Indian rail wagons, just as they do for the Bangladeshi rail wagons, and will not permit outsiders entry into the picture.
According to the new agreement, India can use Bangladesh’s existing rail lines to carry goods and passengers within the country from one state to another, and Bangladesh can use Indian rail lines to transport goods and passengers to other neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and India.
Currently, five operational interchange points connect Bangladesh Railways to the Indian Railway network: Benapole in Bangladesh-Petrapole in India, Darshana in Bangladesh-Gede in India, Rohanpur in Bangladesh-Singhabad in India, Birol in Bangladesh-Radhikapur in India, and Chilahati in Bangladesh-Haldibari in India.
Additionally, trial runs have been conducted between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India), with commercial services expected to commence soon.
At present, two more rail connectivity projects between India and Bangladesh are in the survey stage: Belonia (India) to Feni (Bangladesh) and Mahisasan (India) to Shahbazpur (Bangladesh).
According to the new rail connectivity agreement between Bangladesh and India, India can operate trains on these routes using Bangladesh’s rail track, and Bangladesh will receive a charge from the Indian railway.
According to railway data, in the 2022-23 fiscal year, 982 Indian trains transported goods inside Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Railway earned Tk117 crore from wagon charges only.
