BBC Bangla service said no government project can be launched after the code of conduct is fixed.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has already announced in the Indian parliament that the train service will run from April 14, the first day of Bangla New Year.

Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said in Dhaka on Sunday that his government is "aiming to start Dhaka-Kolkata passenger train service from Pahela Baishakh".

Communications ministry officials of Bangladesh said they were also taking preparations to this end and the date would be announced officially after a supplementary deal between the railway officials of the two countries expected to be signed during three-day bilateral talks in Dhaka from April one.

Despite several trial runs of trains from both Kolkata and Dhaka, the possibility of relaunching the passenger train service had been hanging fire due to Dhaka's objections to the proposal for fencing by India within 150 yards off the no man's land to check smuggling.

The advisory council last month accepted India's proposal for construction of the box-type barbed wire fencing on the zero lines.

Under the proposed agreement, Dhaka will also construct a similar structure near the border in Bangladesh.

The "Moitree Express" will run once a week from both sides and is primarily learnt to have six coaches.

India has already set up the necessary infrastructure like customs and immigration facilities, passengers' waiting halls and other related facilities at Gede station on the Indian side of the border.

Bangladesh has set up the immigration centre in Darshana, Chuadanga for the time being and will set up the centre near the international border after necessary budget is allocated.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net,27-03-08