A trial of bus service on Bangladesh-India-Nepal route has been flagged off, what is seen as a major development in cross border transport service among the three nations.
Trial bus service from Dhaka to Kathmandu through India's Shiliguri has been flagged off. Two buses carrying 80 delegates of the three nations and led by Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Chairman Fariduddin Ahmed left the BRTC international depot, Motijheel, Dhaka, on Monday (Apr 23), local media reports said.
The bus service started under the 'Bangladesh Bhutan India and Nepal (BBIN)' 'Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA)' agreement signed between the countries.
The buses will reach Kathmandu, Nepal, on Apr 26, via Shiliguri, scrutinising in detail all the aspects of the journey. They will submit a report, based on which a protocol will be signed. After the protocol agreement, commercial bus service will be launched.
The BBIN MVA agreement was signed on Jun 15, 2015 at the BBIN transport ministers meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan. It makes way for seamless flow of passenger and cargo traffic in the region.
The governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have already ratified the agreement. The three countries are set to start regular bus services after signing a passenger protocol likely to be signed in Kathmandu after the trial operation.
The Bengal government is gearing up to organize ceremonial reception and hospitality as two buses on the trial run would enter in India on Apr 24, quoting Bengal's Tourism Minister Goutam Deb the report said.
