Kolkata-Dhaka train from April 14

NEW DELHI: In an endorsement of improving ties between India and Bangladesh, the two countries have decided to start the Kolkata-Dhaka train service from April 14.

The decision to start the Sealdah-Joydevpur passenger train service was taken on Thursday at a meeting between railway officials of the two countries in Dhaka. Official sources said the two sides have decided that for six months India will run the service, while Bangladesh will run it for the next six months.

The decision to start the service, which was functional in the 50s, was taken during external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to Dhaka. It was Bangladesh that offered early implementation of the rail service, which is indicative of the turnaround in ties between the two countries. India has also extended an invitation to the Bangladesh chief of army staff Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed to visit India.

The train service is just one outcome of improving ties between India and Bangladesh. New Delhi has been happy with the caretaker government, which has the backing of the army, for taking decisions on the economic as well as the political front. Recently, the government had awarded a 240 mw power project to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

On the political front also, observers say, the crackdown by the interim government on corruption including the arrest of Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and the over-all clean up of the political system would be sending positive signals to New Delhi.

India’s long-pending grievance against the Khaleda Zia government had been that simple issues weren’t resolved and that the political system was such that it did not enable India to work with Bangladesh. It was also felt that the Zia government did nothing to stem terrorism coming through Bangladesh.

But all that seems set to change under the caretaker government. In fact, Bangladesh has said that it was keen to `bury past misunderstandings’ with India.

Foreign affairs adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said: ``Let me declare unequivocally that it is the intention of the current caretaker government to accord high priority to cultivating a close relationship with all our neighbours, including India.’’ He was further quoted as saying that the government would use old cultural linkages and other bilateral links to improve ties.

``It is our intention to use these linkages to build a harmonious relationship. For the future, we will continue to mark this relationship with cordiality and cooperation. I have every confidence that India will not shy way from it, and as she grows, she will help us grow with her,’’ Mr Chowdhury said.