Dhaka: The much-awaited Dhaka-Agartala bus service was flagged off on September 19, opening a new communication link between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Communication Minister Najmul Huda inaugurated the service at a function attended by Foreign Minister Morshed Khan.

Union Minister for Road and Transport and Highways B C Khanduri and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar were also present at the hour-long inauguration function attended by diplomats and senior officials from both sides.

After a ceremonious flag off within the premises of Road and Highways Department, two buses carrying nearly 100 people, including cultural and sports personalities, officials and media left Dhaka for the historic trip.

Another ceremony for the inauguration of the service would be held in Agartala later in the day, for which Huda is travelling to Agartala along with the special bus in a motorcade.

Regular commercial service will start on September 20 with state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) rolling out two buses every day and Tripura Road Transport Corporation plying its vehicle on six days a week with a round fare costing $ 10.

There will be only one halt at Ashuganj in Bangladesh during the bus journey, most of which falls in the territory of this country.

Bus service between Agartala and Dhaka has been a long-standing demand of the people on both sides of the border.

The start of the service is the outcome of an agreement signed at the fag-end of the previous Awami League government headed by Sheikh Hasina in 2001.

Dhaka-Kolkata bus service, the first direct surface communication between the two countries was initiated in July 9, 1999.

PTI