<i>'Resumption' of train service</i>
It is wrong to suggest that Dhaka- Kolkata train service has been resumed after 43 years with effect from Pahela Baishakh 1415. Resumption relates to an issue which was in operation in the past and then restarted. In the case of Dhaka -Kolkata there has never been a direct rail link between the two cities. So the question of resumption of train services does not arise. One should term the event as introduction for the first time of direct rail link between Dhaka and Kolkata which has been possible with the construction of Jamuna Bridge. It may be mentioned here that prior to this, 43 years ago, trains used to run from Dhaka to Jagannathganj and then the passengers had to cross the river Jamuna by ferry. It may be interesting to note that during the pre-partition days, train service between Sirajganj and Calcutta developed to such an extent that a train was available to the passengers travelling to this part of Bengal to reach Sirajganj from Calcutta within 4 hours. Sirajganj used to be the terminal station of the East Indian Railway broad-gauge system, west of river Jamuna. It may also be mentioned here that during the Pakistan period, a special train went to Lahore, Peshawar and then up to Zahidan of Iran directly from Sirajganj. It is therefore possible to introduce a train service from Dhaka to Delhi. Lahore, Peshawar under a Saarc plan.
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