Agartala-Dhaka bus service suspended

Bus service between Agartala and Dhaka has been suspended for an indefinite period in view of the political unrest in Bangladesh, a transport official said on Sunday. Shyamali Paribahan Ltd, which plied buses from Dhaka thrice a week, has suspended their operation for an indefinite period from Saturday.

"Bus service between the two countries was stopped in view of the political turmoil in the country. They did not send their bus for the last 15 days and we also did not send ours due to this problem since then," Managing Director of Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC), R M Malakar said. 

The privately-owned Shyamali Paribahan informed TRTC that they too suspended service for an indefinite period from Saturday, Malakar said. A Dhaka-bound TRTC bus, Moitree was set ablaze by a mob in September 2012, at Narsindi near Dhaka. However, Bangladesh authorities confirmed that it was a case of mistaken identity.

The bus service was launched in September 2003 in view of rising demand from people of the state as it reduced the distance from Agartala to Kolkata. While one has to travel 1,700 km to reach Kolkata by bus and train routes via the Chicken Neck point, the distance is reduced to 530 km via Dhaka in bus. 

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