India-Bangladesh Train Services suspended amid Political Turmoil in Dhaka

NEW DELHI : All train services between India and Bangladesh will remain suspended amid political turmoil in Dhaka. Three trains run between the Asian neighbours – Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express, Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express and Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express connecting both nations. However, due to the political turmoil in Bangladesh, these trains have been further suspended, Eastern Railway stated.

The Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express will remain cancelled on Tuesday. The Maitree Express has been out of service since July 19. Additionally, the bi-weekly Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express and Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka Mitali Express have also been cancelled since July 21 following large-scale violent protests in Bangladesh.

The political crisis in Bangladesh began last month with student groups demanding the removal of a controversial quota system in government jobs. The unrest escalated into calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years and most recently won a fourth consecutive term in January. Nearly 250 people have been killed in the violence.

On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned amid massive protests that claimed more than 100 lives in the last two days. An interim government is set to take over, as announced by Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman.