Khulna is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative center of the Khulna District and the Khulna Division. Khulna's economy is the third-largest in Bangladesh, contributing $53 billion in gross regional domestic product and $95 billion in purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2020. In the 2024 census, the city corporation area had a population of 884,445.
Bangladesh Railway is the state-owned rail transport agency of Bangladesh. It operates and maintains all railways in the country, and is overseen by the Directorate General of Bangladesh Railway. The Bangladesh Railway is governed by the Ministry of Railways and the Bangladesh Railway Authority. Its reporting mark is "BR".
The Maitree Express (13109/13110) train, often pronounced Moitree Express, is the first modern day, fully air conditioned, international, express train service connecting Dhaka in Bangladesh to Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Bengali name Maitree Express means Friendship Express when translated to English, denoting the significance of the train service to the friendly foreign relations between India and Bangladesh. Previously train services between the two countries existed before the partition of India by the British and the Maitree Express re-established this connection between Dhaka and Kolkata in 2008 after being closed for 43 years. In 2017 a second train service, the Bandhan Express, was inaugurated connecting Kolkata with the Bangladeshi city of Khulna, recreating the previous Barisal Express train route.
Transport between India and Bangladesh bears much historical and political significance for both countries, which possessed no ground transport links for 43 years, starting with the partition of Bengal and India in 1947. The Kolkata–Dhaka Bus (1999) and the Dhaka–Agartala Bus (2001) are the primary road links between the two countries; a direct Kolkata-Agartala running through Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh is being developed by both countries. The Maitree Express was launched to revive a railway link between Kolkata and Dhaka that had been shut for 43 years.
Chilahati is a border railway station in Bangladesh, situated in Nilphamari District, in Rangpur Division. It is an active railway transit point on the Bangladesh-India border.
The Chilahati–Parbatipur–Santahar–Darshana line is a railway line connecting Chilahati and Darshana, via Parbatipur Junction, Santahar, Abdulpur, Azim Nagar station, Iswardi and Hardinge Bridge in Bangladesh. This track is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway.
Haldibari Railway Station serves Haldibari town in Cooch Behar district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is an active railway transit point on the Bangladesh–India border. Important trains like New Jalpaiguri - Dhaka Cantonment-New Jalpaiguri Mitali Express runs through Haldibari and Kolkata - Haldibari-Kolkata Tri-Weekly Intercity Express, Sealdah-Haldibari-Sealdah Darjeeling Mail originate and terminate at Haldibari Railway Station.
Rajshahi Railway Station is a railway station at Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The railway station is the main station of the city, and links to Dhaka via the Iswardi–Sirajganj line. The station is one of the most modern, largest and important stations of Bangladesh Railway along with Dhaka and Chittagong railway station. Headquarter of Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway is also located within the station complex.
Kalni Express is an intercity train which runs between Dhaka and Sylhet. Kalni Express was conceived to be the non stop train of Dhaka-Sylhet route of Bangladesh Railway but it has since lost that status.
The Bandhan Express train is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city Kolkata and the Bangladeshi city Khulna every week. It is the second modern day, fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Bengali word Bandhan means bonding when translated to English. It was initially referred to as the Maitree Express II. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna railway station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.
Kapotaksha Express is a Bangladeshi Intercity train service runs between the two western cities of Bangladesh Khulna and Rajshahi.
Chitra Express is a Bangladeshi Intercity train which runs between the capital city Dhaka and the south western city Khulna through Bangabandhu Railway Bridge.
Khulna–Mongla Port line is a 65-kilometre long (40 mi)under-construction broad gauge railway to connect the country with Mongla Port. The Rupsha Rail Bridge is located on this route.
The Banalata Express is a Bangladeshi Intercity train which runs between Chapainawabganj and Dhaka under Bangladesh Railway.
The Barendra Express is an inter-city train of Bangladesh Railway service. It gives service between Rajshahi and the northern Chilahati. It is not so much luxurious train in Bangladesh.
Simanta Express is an intercity train from Chilahati to Khulna. The train is conducted by Bangladesh Railway. The train serves from South-Western Bengal to North Bengal. Apart from the Simanta Express, the Rupsha Express also runs on this route.
The Mitali Express (13131/13132) train is an international express rail service which connects the Indian city of Siliguri with the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka every week. Together with the Maitree Express train and the Bandhan Express train, the Mitali Express train is the third modern-day fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Both the prime ministers of the two neighbouring countries officially inaugurated the non-stop passenger train with ten compartments on the new 513 km route from Dhaka on 26 March 2021, the day Bangladesh celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence. The prime minister of India was in Dhaka to mark the auspicious occasion of fifty years of independence of Bangladesh. After 56 years of stoppage, this train route recreates the previous Siliguri route between India and Bangladesh. A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Mitali Express train. Tickets are available at Dhaka Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh and at New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri, India.
Darshana–Jessore–Khulna line is a broad-gauge railway of Bangladesh Railway. The line is maintained and operated by West Zone.
West Zone is a railway zone operated by Bangladesh Railway. 2,800 km of railway lines in Bangladesh are operated through four divisions in two Zones, West Zone being one of the two Zone. This Zone consists of Rangpur Division, Rajshahi Division, Padma Division, Khulna Division and Tangail District of Dhaka Division of Bangladesh. The head office of West Zone is located in Rajshahi.
