On the occasion of the Bengali New Year's Day on 14th April 2008, the train service between two parts of Bengals was re-launched amidst much fanfare. The then Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee officially flagged-off the inaugural Maitree Express from Kolkata (Chitpur) station towards Dhaka. Another train departed at the same time from Dhaka Cantontment station towards Kolkata.