DHAKA: The first freight train carrying 50 containers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and apparel products from India arrived at Benapole via Benapole-Petrapole rail link.

The products were handed over to Bangladesh authorities on Sunday, said a press release issued by Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The train was dispersed from the Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) in Majerhat, Kolkata and arrived at Benapole port on Sunday, said the release.

The release also said the container train service will be a permanent service connecting the nominated Inland Container Depots and Terminals of Container Corporation of India Ltd in India and various stations in Bangladesh railway system. 

Container train service is an additional service which is going to transport cargo by rail other than the traditional freight trains service and the recently-introduced parcel train service. 

To start the container train service, Container Corporation of India and the Bangladesh Container Company Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in April 2017.

A trial run of the first container train from Kolkata to Bangabandhu setu West station (BBW) was successfully conducted on April 3, 2018.
With the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic, now there has been a disruption in supply chain. 

The government agencies of both the countries have taken measures to utilize railway as a viable option for bilateral trade and minimizing disruption in that, the release added.

BDST: 1915 HRS, JULY 26, 2020
AP/SMS