Bangladesh approves security fencing for train services with Kolkata

Dhaka, Feb 25 (UNI) The Bangladesh caretaker government approved a proposal for constructing fencing boxes inside Bangladesh and India, 150 yards from the zero point for operating passenger train services between the two countries.

A weekly meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair approved the proposal yesterday incorporating the new provision in the draft agreement on the cross-border passenger train movement.

''The government of India and Bangladesh may construct a box-type temporary fencing from zero point along the railway of the respective territories considering security of passengers and the train on a mutually agreed drawing and design,'' according to the new provision.

Adding that the arrangement made under the provision shall not be used or quoted as reference for any other situation of similar nature or other purposes, including strategic or defense.

The government also endorsed changing the names of rail-stations on the two ends, extending the link between Dhaka and Kolkata.

Now, on Bangladesh side, the station would be Dhaka Cantonment Station instead of previously set Joydevpur while on the Indian side, the last station would be Chitpur in Kolkata instead of Shealdah.

The agreement on running passenger trains between Bangladesh and India was signed in July 2001 in Dhaka for three years. The agreement was not renewed in due time, but later it was extended upto July 11, 2010.

Recently, two decorated trains from the two sides had moved across the border on the inaugural run.

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