July 10, 2007 (LPAC)--After 42 years, the train links between India and Bangladesh have been re-established. The trial run took place on July 9. The full service is expected to begin on August 2. The train services between the two countries were suspended following the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965.

The 250 mile-long train link will eventually connect two major cities, Kolkata in West Bengal on the Indian side, and Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. At the intial stage, however, the train would link Kolkata to Joydebpur about 36 miles west of Dhaka.

The train link will be re-established at a time when Bangladesh is under an interim regime backed by its military. It has been noted in New Delhi that the interim government is very keen to interlink Bangladesh with its neighboring nations. For years, Bangladesh was getting increasingly isolated because of the intense political struggle within between two major political parties--the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The inability of both these polticial parties to prioritize developmental activities which could lead Bangladesh forward economically, resulted in the rise of many violent sections within the population, economic stagnancy, and growing instability.