KOLKATA, Feb 26: After nearly 18 months, the international Maitree bus service connecting Agartala, Dhaka, and Kolkata has resumed, signaling not just a restoration of transport links but a renewed pathway for friendship, cultural exchange, and shared progress between India and Bangladesh.

On its first day back, the bus departed Kolkata, journeyed through Dhaka, and reached the Akhaura Integrated Check Post in Agartala. For passengers, officials, and communities along the route, the revival represents more than a service—it is a bridge reconnecting families, friends, traders, and travelers whose lives were paused by the suspension.

Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury highlighted the broader human impact, noting that reopening the route will breathe new life into tourism, trade, and cultural ties, while also deepening the people-to-people bonds that form the foundation of lasting friendship between neighboring nations. Improved security and smoother communication, he said, will allow ordinary citizens to move, interact, and cooperate more freely.

The minister also emphasized that better regional connectivity—including rail links, the Maitree Bridge in Sabroom, and enhanced port access—will help the Northeast thrive economically, but more importantly, it will empower communities through increased opportunities for work, trade, and interaction.

On the first day, 18 passengers traveled from Kolkata, experiencing a journey that was largely smooth and uneventful. Their travels are symbolic of a larger movement toward reconnection, where lives, businesses, and communities long affected by border closures can once again engage and grow together.

The Agartala-Dhaka route is also set to operate regularly, extending this renewed lifeline of mobility, trust, and collaboration. Observers see the Maitree bus not merely as transport, but as a human bridge—strengthening ties, fostering understanding, and nurturing the spirit of cooperation.

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, reinforced this vision, stating that India seeks to build upon the historic friendship between the nations and to support a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh. Through this revived connection, the two countries are not just reopening roads—they are opening opportunities for dialogue, shared prosperity, and mutual respect.