‘Bangladesh will allow neighbours to use its ports’

Agartala: The Bangladesh government has decided to allow its neighbours to use both Chittagong and Ashuganj sea ports for better economic integration among South Asian countries, said Tripura’s industries and commerce minister Tripura Tapan Chakraborty.
Chakraborty met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the recent India-Bangladesh business conclave in Dhaka. “She told me that Bangladesh has already taken a policy decision to allow its neighbouring countries to use its sea ports for multi-model transit, but now it is waiting for development of infrastructure in dealing with consignments,” Chakraborty said.
The Indian government is funding the construction of a bridge on the Feni river, developing a 70-km road from Sabroom to Chittagong port and laying railway tracks between Agartala and Akhaura.
He said there were discussions about India’s longstanding demand for transit and transshipment facilities through Bangladesh and direct bus services from Agartala to Kolkata via Dhaka without any halt.
“Besides, I have asked them to open more border haats along the border to strengthen bilateral ties, set up a warehouse at Ashuganj port to facilitate transshipment of goods to India, develop the connecting road of Akhaura-Viswa Road in Bangladesh and expedite the process of Agartala-Akhaura rail link,” the minister added.
He said Hasina has promised to provide all possible help to northeastern states.