The direct international bus service connecting Agartala and Kolkata through Dhaka has resumed operations after a pause lasting over eighteen months. The service was suspended on August 5, 2024, citing political unrest in Bangladesh and visa issues.
Yesterday, a ‘Royal Maitree’ bus originating from Kamalapur Bus Depot in Dhaka entered India’s Tripura state through Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura. Earlier, on February 21, a bus departed from Krishnanagar Bus Depot in Agartala headed for Dhaka, as confirmed by Sub-Inspector Md Sharifur Rahman, the overseeing officer at Akhaura Integrated Check Post.
Warish Alam, the general manager of the Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata bus service, mentioned that initially, buses will run twice a week as a trial. If the situation remains stable, the frequency could be increased to three days per week.
This route offers substantial logistical benefits. While the train journey from Agartala to Kolkata via Guwahati spans nearly 1,500 km, the bus route through Dhaka shortens the distance to approximately 500 km, leading to significant reductions in travel time and expenses.