Agartala: Bangladesh Railway Minister Mohammad Mazibul Hoque on Thursday said the present Bangladesh government is interested to restore Indo-Bangla railway connectivity that existed before 1947.
Hoque is leading a cultural team here to attend a private programme. They reached Agartala through Akhaura Integrated Checkpost and were received by Deputy Speaker of Tripura legislative assembly Pabitra Kar.
Talking to mediapersons, he said Bangladesh believes India’s initiative to construct 15-km railway track connecting Agartala with Bangladesh’s (southeastern city) Akhaura is the beginning of restoration of surface transport link.
‘After 1947, a number of railway lines between the two neighbours had snapped. The Independence war in 1947 won our hearts and both the countries came closer and people to people contact improved.
“We are considering restoring most of the deserted railway linkages which connects the two countries,’ he said.
Meanwhile, India decided to connect Agartala with Akhaura at an investment of Rs 252 crore by Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON) where Northeast Frontier Railway is funding a total 10 km track in Bangladesh land, he stated.
Besides, Agartala-Akhaura railway line construction, Bangladesh is sincerely looking for early implementation of India funded 12 such connectivity projects which had been announced by the earlier UPA government led by Manmohan Singh in 2010 during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi.
“If the old connectivity including the deserted railway linkages are restored, then trade, business, people-to-people relationship and tourism between the two countries would further develop, as life, culture and tradition are similar in eastern part of India and Bangladesh,’ Hoque said.
To a question to facilitate food grains, essentials and heavy machineries from different parts of India and abroad to northeastern states via Bangladesh, he said Bangladesh is ready to help India.
He, however, indicated that Bangladesh is considerate to India’s longstanding demand to get access in land, sea and rail of Bangladesh for better connectivity in Southeast Asian countries through Tripura. (UNI)