Three passenger trains have historically connected Bangladesh and India by rail — the Maitree Express (Dhaka–Kolkata), the Bandhan Express (Khulna–Kolkata), and the Mitali Express (Dhaka–New Jalpaiguri). All three currently remain suspended. Below you’ll find the current status, the last known operating schedule for reference, and what to expect once services resume.
Current Status (Updated September 2026)
All three interstate passenger services — Maitree, Bandhan, and Mitali Express — have been suspended since July 2024, following the political unrest that led to the fall of the previous Bangladesh government. Freight operations resumed in February 2025, but passenger services have not. Railway officials from Bangladesh and India held talks in Dhaka in early September 2026 to discuss restarting all three routes, with a possible resumption target of October 2026 — though no formal resumption date has been confirmed yet.
About the Three Interstate Trains
| Train | Route | Pre-Suspension Frequency | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maitree Express | Dhaka Cantonment ↔ Kolkata (Chitpur) | 5 days a week | AC First Class, AC Chair Car |
| Bandhan Express | Khulna ↔ Kolkata (Chitpur) | 2 days a week | AC First Class, AC Chair Car |
| Mitali Express | Dhaka Cantonment ↔ New Jalpaiguri | 2 days a week | AC First Class, AC Chair Car |
Last Known Operating Schedule (Before the 2024 Suspension)
These are the running days and timings each train followed right up until services stopped in July 2024. They’re included here for reference and will be updated with the new timetable as soon as services resume — they should not be treated as the current schedule.
| Train | Direction | Departure | Arrival | Running Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maitree Express (3107/3110) | Dhaka Cant. → Kolkata | 08:15 (BST) | 16:00 (IST) | Friday, Sunday, Tuesday |
| Maitree Express (3108/3109) | Kolkata → Dhaka Cant. | 07:10 (IST) | 16:05 (BST) | Saturday, Monday, Wednesday |
| Bandhan Express (3130) | Khulna → Kolkata | 13:30 (BST) | 18:10 (IST) | Thursday |
| Bandhan Express (3129) | Kolkata → Khulna | 07:10 (IST) | 12:30 (BST) | Sunday, Thursday |
| Mitali Express (3131) | Dhaka Cant. → New Jalpaiguri | 21:50 (BST) | 07:15 (IST) | Monday, Thursday |
| Mitali Express (3132) | New Jalpaiguri → Dhaka Cant. | 11:45 (IST) | 22:30 (BST) | Sunday, Wednesday |
What to Expect When Services Resume
A few developments worth knowing as talks progress:
- Padma Bridge rerouting: India has proposed running the Maitree Express via the Padma Bridge instead of the older Jamuna Bridge route, which could cut journey time by two to three hours.
- New route on the table: Bangladesh has proposed adding a new Rajshahi–Kolkata service alongside the existing three routes.
- Formal approval still pending: Bangladesh’s railway ministry has said it will consider resumption once India submits a formal diplomatic proposal — as of the latest talks, that proposal hadn’t been submitted yet.