18-day BBIN car rally kicks off in India today

Munima Sultana | Published: November 14, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The motor rally, under the Bangladesh Bhutan India and Nepal (BBIN) motor vehicle agreement (MVA), flags off today (Saturday) from Bhubaneswar in Orissa of India aiming at making a 4,500-kilometre journey in 18 days for opening a corridor for passenger movement.
The rally will enter Bangladesh on November 28 through Biloniya border in Feni via Ranchi in Bihar, Patna, Kathmandu, Biratnagar in Nepal, Fuentsoling, Thimpu, Bhumthang, Mongar in Bhutan, Guwahati, Shilchar of Assam in India and Agartola in Tripura.
Officials said the BBIN friendship motor rally 2015, the first of its kind since the MVA was signed by transport ministers of four members of the SAARC, will see participation of 20 cars of the Kalinga Motor Sports Club nominated by India.
From Bangladesh side, six representatives will take part.
Sources said the rally will enter Bangladesh territory through Bilonia of Feni completing journey to Bhutan on November 28 and leaving for Kolkata through Benapole border on December 1.Â The rally will finally be announced closed on December 2.
The officials said to make the rally a success in Bangladesh part, all preparations including security of the representatives has been taken. Â
"We have arranged security, medical facilities, lodging etc for the car rally members as they will stay both in Chittagong and Dhaka before completing the Bangladesh part of the journey," said an official preferring not to be named.
He said the car rally will run through Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Dhaka, Manikganj, Paturia, Doulatdia, Rajbari, Faridpur and Magura.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges held a coordination meeting on Thursday to take necessary preparations for making the rally successful.
Sources said the security forces of Bangladesh will receive the delegations from the border and escort them all through the Bangladesh corridor. Besides, initiative has been taken to speed up their immigration during their stay here, they added.
They said during the motor rally, seminars will be held on the benefits of the motor vehicle agreement wherever night halt is planned.
This is the first-ever motor rally being held in four South Asian countries. Earlier a car rally was held in a corridor of Bangladesh China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) from Kunming to Kolkata aiming to establish a corridor for trade and people-to-people contact among four member-states.
Sources said the car rally of BBIN has been planned to launch passenger service across the four countries in January next.
Though the MVA was signed in Bhutan on June 15 by the transport ministers of respective countries, passenger service is expected to be launched in January while container services across the four countries is likely to be delayed.
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