'Bangladesh wants pre 1965 connectivity to revive'

A CORRESPONDENT

AGARTALA, Jan 29: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi is keen to revive all forms of connectivity that existed before the 1965 war between India and Pakistan and to extend it further. This was revealed by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to New Delhi Syed Muazzem Ali on Friday.

The Bangladeshi High Commissioner said that apart from reviving the nine railway connection between India and the then East Pakistan some new points like Agartala and Akhaura also will be established.

Ali who arrived here on a three day visit said, “The bus services between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka and connecting Dhaka with Guwahati and Shillong are the milestones in our journey towards improving bilateral relations. He said not only road and railway she is eyeing to improve other forms of connectivity including air and waterways.”

He said that proposals are going on to devise a mechanism for joint basin magement for proper utilization of water resources and also to revive the waterways that were in use earlier. He also added that for anchoring big ships in Chittagong Port building a deep sea port is necessary which is not possible for Bangladesh alone as it require huge investment and it can be possible only through an intertiol consortium.

Citing the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India- Nepal agreement for free road connectivity he said this region is the real beneficiary of the SAARC initiative, adding that things are moving in right direction and a time may come when this region will become a big economic zone.

Talking about trade and industries he said, “There are lot of possibilities but the investors in this region are still reluctant to invest in one another’s country.” However, he said some investment has already taken place and we have reason to expect that it will increase.

He said immediately after becoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi had assured that the land of Bangladesh will not be allowed to be used for any militant activities and now it is evident that she has kept her word returned the insurgents who were taking shelter there. He expressed gratitude to India for reciprocating in right manner.