SHILLONG: Rongara-Siju MLA Rakkam Sangma has asked the state government to upgrade the existing land custom station and setup an immigration centre at Baghmara so that trade activities with Dhaka can be improved.
He said Baghmara is closest to Bangladesh capital Dhaka as the distance between Baghmara and Dhaka is around 189 kilometers and the travel time is 3 hours.
“As Baghmara is closer to Dhaka than state capital Shillong and others, there is a need to revive and improve trade activities with the neighbouring country”, he said.
According to the MLA, Dhaka and Mymensingh were educational hubs and there used to be tourist flow from these areas to Meghalaya.
The MLA along with MDC Sengnal Sangma and former MLA Satto Marak met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on November 1 to discuss the issues related to international trade and commerce activities.
The MLA also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the chief minister.
The MLA said that prior to independence, Simsang river was used for trade and commerce activities and he believes that the revival of waterways and trade routes is the need of the hour.
The MLA, while demanding international border haats in Baghmara and Mahadeo/Maheshkola areas, said that a bus service should begin from Baghmara to Dhaka, adding that a highway can also be built from Baghmara to Dhaka.
Setting up of helipads at Mahadeo,Siju and Baghmara will boost tourism, he said.
Rakkam said Garo Hills region, instead of depending on fish brought from Andhra Pradesh after five days, can depend on Sylhet and Mymensingh to import fish within two-three hours with cheaper price.
The MLA wants the delegation led by chief minister to apprise Bangladesh about these issues during their visit to Dhaka from November 5 to 8.
