Singapore: Bangladesh has called on India to ratify the Indo-Bangladesh Land Agreement to pave the way for accelerating regional economic development.
The call was made by Professor Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, at the second South Asian Diaspora Convention on Friday which was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
“Chief Minister I would gently remind you that there is one small business on your table to vote for the ratification of the Indo-Bangladesh land agreement,” he told Gogoi at the convention.
Prof Rizvi joined Chief Minister Gogoi in addressing the session on South Asia-ASEAN Land Connectivity at the two-day convention, organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies, a think tank of National University of Singapore.
“I hope that when it comes to parliament you shall not let us down,” he said, adding that all other issues between the two countries have been resolved. “Our border disputes have been resolved and signed, awaiting ratification,” said Rizvi, stressing that South Asia should no longer be seen as a region of conflicts but a region which focuses on economic cooperation and development.
While, Bangladesh has full duty free access to the Indian market, he assured the Assam Chief Minister, “I will say you are no longer land locked. Our roads, railways, rivers and seaports are all at your disposal.”
“In the last 4-1/2 years all the outstanding issues that stand between the two countries have been set aside and we have resolved them,” said Rizvi.
He went on to highlight the land route access through Bangladesh to India’s North East states and Nepal.
Rizvi said Bangladesh would participate in the massive hydroelectric projects in the North East region and would provide power evacuation route as power supplies would meet the surging demand in his country as well as the rest of the region.
The power development has been on the hold for the past 50-60 years due to evacuation route problems, noted Prof.
But that was no longer the case with the development of good neighbourly relations between India and Bangladesh in recent years.
He also invited international and Indian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh industrial zones and export their products back to the massive 1.3 billion Indian markets.
“The doors are wide open and the opportunities are great. Our governments are waiting and now it is for you to come and join us in our endeavours,” said Rizvi. (PTI)