Freight train arrives in Dinajpur from India after 9 months
Rail-based freight transport has helped overcome major logistical challenges for both countries and has also reduced transportation costs
After nearly nine months, a freight train carrying goods has arrived at the Birol corridor in Dinajpur via rail from India.
According to railway authorities, the train, consisting of around 46 freight wagons, reached the Birol railway station of Dinajpur in Bangladesh at about 9pm on Thursday.
As per railway officials, the train departed from Radhikapur railway station in Uttar Dinajpur, India, after completing formal procedures at about 8pm on Thursday. It then entered Bangladesh through the Birol land port.
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The train carried dust powder used for making ceramic plates. Previously, the last freight train arrived in Bangladesh through this corridor on 6 May of the previous year.
Mamunul Islam, general manager (west) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Business Standard, "The train is currently unloading goods in Joypurhat. After completing formal procedures, it will return to India via the same route within a couple of days."
According to railway authorities, there are a total of five inter-country rail corridors connecting Bangladesh and India: Darshana-Gede, Benapole-Petrapole, Rohanpur-Singhabad, Birol-Radhikapur, and Chilahati-Haldibari. All of these corridors fall within the Indian state of West Bengal.
Through these corridors, Bangladesh imports various goods from West Bengal and surrounding regions, including construction materials, stone, stone chips, poultry feed DOC, molasses, fly ash (used in cement production), rice, and motor vehicles such as tractors.
Freight trains typically operated with 42 to 46 wagons. Each wagon carried 32 metric tonnes, allowing a single train to transport 1,200 and 1,250 tonnes of goods at a time.
Rail-based freight transport has helped overcome major logistical challenges for both countries and has also reduced transportation costs.
Goods are imported into Bangladesh from India via rail, but no exports take place in the opposite direction.
During the anti-government movement in Bangladesh, freight train operations between the two countries were suspended on 3 August of last year. After the new government took office, train services resumed on 20 August. While trains began running through other corridors, the Birol-Radhikapur corridor remained closed.
In addition to freight transport, three pairs of passenger trains operated on inter-country routes between Bangladesh and India: Dhaka-Kolkata, Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri, and Khulna-Kolkata. Each train, consisting of 10 coaches, could carry between 350 and 450 passengers.
However, the passenger train services, which were suspended on 18 July last year during the onset of the mass uprising in Bangladesh, have yet to resume.
These trains were primarily used by medical patients, tourists, and business travellers commuting regularly to India.
However, after the change in government, train services remain suspended due to security concerns.
According to railway officials, during the construction of major infrastructure projects like the Padma Bridge and Jamuna Bridge, 150 to 200 freight trains operated monthly on the Bangladesh-India corridors, with an average of 5 to 6 trains per day. However, since 2020, this number has gradually declined.
Before the mass uprising, one or two freight trains operated daily. However, this number sharply declined afterwards. Currently, around 20 to 25 trains are running per month based on demand.
Mamunul Islam, general manager (west) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Business Standard, "After 5 August, the number of freight trains had decreased. However, it is now gradually increasing again. These trains operate based on the demand of importers and exporters from both countries. However, passenger train services remain completely suspended, as India has kept them halted due to security concerns."
