Dhaka, July 23: Bangladesh has asked India to broaden (rpt) broaden rail links between the two countries, which got snapped due to the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her country wants broader rail links with India restored and this she has conveyed to Indian Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Rail links were snapped following the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, six years before the sovereign state of Bangladesh was born.
“The railway connection was disconnected after war …now we want to open it … we want to develop our railways,” Ms. Hasina told a 50-member business delegation, led by FICCI.
“Our government has already sent a request to Indian Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in this regard,” she said.
“I think the railways are for the common people … poor people … we are planning to develop it and we need your cooperation and investment also,” Ms. Hasina said, adding that the step aimed at promoting relations between both the neighbours and boosting economic and other ties.
“We should work together with all our neighbours and especially India … so we always give importance to our relationship,” she said, adding that India with its huge resources and expertise can help Bangladesh strengthen the rail and road network.
“We will open our Mongla port … we want to develop our ports,” she said, stressing that improved connectivity would usher in strong ties and development.
Bangladesh Commerce Minister Mohammad Faruk Khan said good connectivity was needed in order to improve relations between the two countries.
“We are trying to improve connectivity between the two countries. This was a very positive note and the same was expressed by both the sides. I think it is a very good meeting. The Prime Minister expressed herself that how much happy she felt and we have had a very free and frank discussion,” he said.
Earlier, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Vice-Chairman Harsh Mariwala, leading the Indian delegation, had said, “… We need a definitive improvement in the infrastructure for movement of goods and people between the two countries …
“If the Bangladesh government can open up the Chittagong port for Indian cargo, then this would have a huge multiplier effect on our bilateral relations.”
–PTI