National
Modi, Hasina, Mamata flag-off Kolkata-Khulna friendship train (Second Lead)
New Delhi/Dhaka/Kolkata Nov 9 (IANS) Taking their close ties and connectivity links further, India and Bangladesh on Thursday opened a new rail line between Kolkata and Khulna with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee jointly flagging-off the ‘Bandhan Express’ via video-conferencing.
The dignitaries also inaugurated the International Passenger Rail Terminal, End-to-End Immigration and Customs Clearance Facilities (for passengers of Maitree Express and Bandhan Express) at Kolkata station, under the India-Bangladesh Cooperation in Railways.
Rail bridges over river Titas and Bhairabh in Bangladesh were also launched, to speed up connectivity between Dhaka and Chittagong.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj joined in from New Delhi, and her Bangladesh counterpart A.H. Mahmood Ali from Dhaka.
Prime Minister Modi said that India takes pride in being a “reliable partner” in Bangladesh’s development and that the two bridges, built at a cost of $100 million out of India’s Line of Credit, would help strengthen the rail network of Bangladesh.
He said development and connectivity are linked to each other and the ties between India and Bangladesh, particularly between West Bengal and Bangladesh, are decades old. He said Thursday’s launch was aimed to further cementing the close bilateral bonds.
“With the inauguration of the new International Passenger Terminus and launch of a new train service passengers will be benefitted,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he was happy that work on the $8 billion concessional finance of the project was on track.
Emphasising on good ties with neighbours, Modi said, “I have always thought that relations with neighbours should be like neighbours. So that whenever there is a need to talk there should be talks and visits, and between all these protocol issues should not come in.”
He said the most important aspect of connectivity is “people to people connectivity”.
Speaking in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina said the launch was the fulfilment of a long cherished dream and another happy occasion in Bangladesh-India relations.
“I am also confident that these services would give a boost to cultural exchanges and tourism between our two peoples,” she said.
“I hope this fine display of mutuality of our relationship will further strengthen our bilateral relations.”
Hasina said that Bangladesh wants to cooperate with India and other neighbouring countries for creating a ‘peace area’ in South Asia where all can live together as good neighbours and pursue constructive policies for the benefit of all.
“We’re ready to cooperate with India and other countries in the immediate neighbourhood for creating a ‘peace area’ in South Asia where we can live together,” she said.
“I’m sure these connectivity initiatives will further consolidate this vision.”
Hasina said as friendly nations there has been an excellent relationship between the two countries and continuation of such relationship is very essential, the Daily Star reported.
Bangladesh and India are working to re-open pre-1965 rail links for freight transport, Hasina added.
In Kolkata, Chief Minister Banerjee said: “This is a huge gain for passenger convenience. When the Barisal Express, which used to ferry passengers till 1965, was shut down, passengers were inconvenienced. When I was the Rail Minister, through Bongaon Petrapole we had started some passenger services. I hope the ties between the two countries deepen.
“Bangladesh is one of India’s best friend in the world. Bandhan express will strengthen the relationship. Hasinaji I invite you to visit Bengal.”
The airconditioned ‘Bandhan Express’ will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna. It will cover a distance of 177km in four and half hours.
The train would be open to passengers from November 16.
The train, according to the schedule, would leave Kolkata at 11 a.m. (India time) and reach Khulna in four and half hours.
It will be the first service on the route in 52 years. The rail line had closed during the Pakistan-era due to the 1965 India-Pakistan War. The train will have 156 seats.
The construction of the 984-meter long and seven-meter wide Bhairab Railway Bridge started on December 25, 2013 and ended last month, the Daily Star reported. India’s Ircon-Afcons joint venture constructed the bridge which has both dual gauge and broad-gauge facilities.
An international rail passenger terminal was also inaugurated at Chitpur in Kolkata for passengers of the Moitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka. This will help ease customs and immigration formalities and cut travel time between Dhaka and Kolkata by three hours.
The bridge over the Titas was built by Indian company Gammon-Flcl Consortium.
–IANS
sgh-rn-aks/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
