The bus services provide affordable, people-centric connectivity between the two countries

The cross-border bus service between India and Bangladesh resumed on Friday, two years after its suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Resumption of India-BangladeshCross-Border Bus Services! Bus services b/w India and Bangladesh via ICP Agartala-Akhaura &ICP Haridaspur-Benapole resumed with Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka bus being flagged off from Dhaka early morning today-a major step forward in enhancing affordable,people-centric connectivity," the High Commission of India in Bangladesh tweeted on Thursday.

Tthe bus service via ICP Dawki-Tamabil will be launched in due course once necessary clearances are obtained from the Governments of India and Bangladesh, the High Commission said in a press release.

"The bus services are a major step forward in enhancing affordable, people-centric connectivity between the two countries, and are a popular means of travel in India and Bangladesh," it added.

The resumption in bus services comes less than a fortnight after rail services between the two countries resumed on May 29. Train services between the two countries had also been suspended since March 2020 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Three trains now travel between India and Bangladesh. Bandhan Express operates between Kolkata and Khulna, Bangladesh while Maitree Express connects Kolkata with Dhaka. A new train, Mitali Express, has also begun operations between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka.