New Delhi: Indian Railways has handed over 20 broad gauge locomotives to neighbouring Bangladesh during a virtual flag-off ceremony. The aim is to strengthen the countries' bilateral relationships.

Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and his Bangladesh counterpart Md. Nurul Islam Sujan joined the ceremony.

The handing over of these diesel locomotives, under grant assistance from the Government of India, fulfils an important commitment made during the visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to India, in October, 2019.

In keeping with the requirements of Bangladesh Railway, the locomotives have been suitably modified by the Indian side. These locomotives will help handle the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh.

Speaking on this occasion, Vaishnaw said, “India’s relationship with Bangladesh is civilisational, cultural, social and economic. The prime ministers of both the countries are playing proactive roles to improve bilateral relationships across social, economic and political sectors."

As of now, five BG connectivity are operational, namely Geda- Darsana, Benapol- Petrapol, Singhabad- Rohanpur, Radhikapur- Birol and Haldibari-Chilahati. Work on two more cross-border rail connectivities, Akhaura-Agartala and Mahihasan-Shahbazpur, are progressing well and are likely to be completed and commissioned shortly.

Trade between both the countries via rail have seen consistent growth with interchange of close to 100 cargo trains per month and approximately 2.66 MT cargo was sent to Bangladesh in the last financial year.

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