The Maitree Express is an International passenger train connecting the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka and India's former capital - Kolkata. Inaugurated on Bengali New Year's day - April 14th 2008, this is the only passenger railway link between the cities of the two nations and has been revived after 43 years, which was closed from 1965. The name Maitree Express means the Friendship Express, denoting the significance of the train service to the foreign relations between India and Bangladesh. The development of the Kolkata - Dhaka train service is akin to that of the Samjhauta Express started on 22nd July 1976 later closed & again revived on 14 April 2000, which connects the Attari in India to Lahore in Pakistan & also Thar Express, revived after a period of 41 years on 18th February 2006, connecting Karachi in Pakistan to Jodhpur in India. All of these train services were opened to revive rail links between the regions that were carved out of India due to the partition in 1947 and are symbols of goodwill and cooperation with Bangladesh and Pakistan.

In the above photo 13107 Up Dhaka Cantonment (DHCA) - Kolkata (KOAA) Maitree Express Bangladesh Railway rake was spotted at Kolkata station by Sam.