Nearly two years after its abrupt halt, the fate of the Mitali Express — once a powerful symbol of cross-border friendship — may be turning toward revival. An initiative led by Jalpaiguri MP Jayant Kumar Roy has rekindled hopes of restarting the train service on the Haldibari–Chilahati route, reconnecting the two Bengals through steel tracks that once carried both passengers and shared history.
At present, rail travel between India and Bangladesh remains suspended. Two passenger trains that previously linked the neighbouring nations were halted amid political turbulence in Bangladesh and a steady deterioration in diplomatic relations. Now, with a new political chapter unfolding across the border, discussions around reviving the Mitali Express have quietly regained momentum.
Following the end of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh has sworn in a new cabinet under BNP Chief Tarique Rahman. In response to this shifting political landscape, BJP MPs in India have begun engaging with various stakeholders to explore the possibility of restoring rail connectivity.
Yet the path to revival is far from straightforward. Any decision to restart the service requires a complex web of approvals from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and the Ministry of Railways. Equally critical will be the stance adopted by the newly formed Bangladeshi government, making diplomacy as vital as infrastructure in determining the train’s return.
The story of this rail corridor stretches back decades. Until 1965, passenger trains routinely departed from Jalpaiguri and travelled to Kolkata through what is now Bangladesh. That historic route fell silent during the geopolitical upheavals of the 1965 war, severing a vital transportation link that had once stitched together communities across the region.
For decades, the idea of reviving the railway remained little more than a nostalgic memory. It was only after the landmark India–Bangladesh enclave exchange agreement in 2015 that the conversation gathered momentum again. Both governments began working toward restoring the long-abandoned corridor.
The dream finally materialised in 2022 when the New Jalpaiguri–Dhaka Mitali Express was jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The train quickly became a symbol of renewed regional connectivity and cooperation.
However, that promise was short-lived. Mass protests against the Hasina government in Bangladesh, coupled with rising anti-India sentiment and concerns over the safety of religious minorities, strained bilateral relations. In July 2024, the Mitali Express was suspended.
The last service departed Dhaka for New Jalpaiguri on July 17, marking the beginning of another uncertain pause in the route’s long history. The train remained stranded in Bangladesh for nearly five months before returning to India on December 10 following diplomatic talks between the foreign secretaries of the two nations. Since then, it has remained idle at New Jalpaiguri station — a silent witness to the fragile nature of cross-border politics.
Ironically, the infrastructure required for the train’s operation is already in place. On the Indian side, the Ministry of Railways constructed a 3.34-kilometre railway link from Haldibari station to the international border. Bangladesh Railways, meanwhile, laid a 6.724-kilometre track from Chilahati to the border, effectively completing the missing rail corridor.
Goods trains began operating on this route on December 17, 2020, when the prime ministers of the two countries flagged off the service virtually. Passenger trains followed on June 1, 2022, once again allowing travellers to cross the barbed-wire frontier by rail.
In the quiet lanes of Jalpaiguri and the surrounding region, anticipation is steadily building. Residents believe the return of the Mitali Express would not only restore a historic connection but also boost local economies and strengthen cultural ties.
Local resident Swapan Sarkar expressed a sentiment widely shared across the region, saying that people want the train service to resume so that the friendship between the two nations can flourish again.
Railway officials also appear prepared. Kirendra Nara, Divisional Railway Manager of the Katihar Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, said the service could begin as soon as the necessary approvals arrive from higher authorities.
BJP MP Jayant Kumar Roy remains optimistic. According to him, the formation of a new government in Bangladesh offers an opportunity for both countries to rebuild cordial relations. Restarting the Mitali Express, he believes, would significantly improve connectivity and accelerate socio-economic development in Haldibari, where an Amrit Bharat railway station has already been constructed.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has said that he will soon raise the matter with the Union Foreign Minister to ensure that rail communication and cross-border trade resume.
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