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A Bangladesh passenger train, the first in 36 years, arrived at the Indian border at 3:20 pm on Wednesday and was welcomed by hundreds of women and children on this side of the border.
Ten minutes later, the train, on a trial run and comprising seven economy coaches painted blue and cream, drew up at the Gede station in Nadia district.
Initially, the train would run between Sealdah and Bangabandhu Setu. From there, the passengers would be transported to Dhaka by bus. It will cover a distance of 421 km with a total running time of 14 hours.
The train carried a Bangla official delegation led by Divisional Railway Manager, Pakshi, A K M Mustafikur Rahman.
"I am very happy. It had been a long standing aspiration of the people of our country," Rahman said.
The Indian delegation was led by DRM, Sealdah, D C Mitra, who said regular services were expected to start after the Bangla elections.
The train would leave for Bangladesh on Thursday.
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