The Barishal Express was a railway train that was one of three train services running between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). [1]
The Barishal Express launched in 1884. [2] The train connected the Indian city of Kolkata (then Calcutta) with the city of Khulna in Bangladesh. [1] The railway link was suspended at the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. [1] In 1972, the route reopened for 2 years for goods train service. [2]
An agreement was signed between India and Bangladesh in July 2000 to re-establish the train link. Feasibility studies had been going on since 1994. [2] The Bandhan Express is a new train recreating this route in the 21st century. [3] [4] [5] The immigration checks have been moved to Calcutta train station to avoid losing hours waiting at the border. [6]