PM for reopening of rail links with India Seeks cooperation to facilitate trade with Nepal, Bhutan

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Tuesday that her government was interested to reopen the cross-border railways, abandoned following the 1965 Indo-Pak war, for stronger connectivity between Bangladesh and India in the fields of trade, investment and people-to-people contacts, reports UNB.
She also sought Indian cooperation so that Bangladesh could transact trade and business through Banglabandh and Burimari land-port routes with Nepal and Bhutan.
Routing trade between Bangladesh and the two landlocked Himalayan countries through the two northern land-ports necessitates corridors through Indian territories.
The Prime Minister made the remarks when a 50-member-strong business delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) led by its vice-president Harsh C Mariwala had a meeting with her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Hasina disclosed that she already had contacted Indian Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee about the rerun of trains along the derelict rails.
Besides, she said, her government would take immediate effective steps to modernise the intra-country railways for communications up to the present-day standards.
"I have also seen the rail budget of your country (India). You have expertise in the sector of railway communications. We need your help in this regard," she told the Indian business leaders.
The Prime Minister informed the Indian delegation that all land-ports located on the Bangladesh-India border would be developed and other necessary infrastructures set up there gradually to boost bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries.
Besides, the present government had a plan to develop Mongla seaport as part of their massive plan to turn Bangladesh into a prosperous modern country by 2021.
As the Indian business delegation requested the Prime Minister for setting up special economic zones in the border areas exclusively for Indian investment, she said the government had already planned to build special economic zones where, like others, Indian businessmen could also make their investment.
She said there were export-processing zones (EPZs) in Comilla, Feni and Syedpur (Uttara EPZ) and the Indian businessmen could invest in these EPZs as these were close to the border regions.
Regarding special economic zones for Indian investment, she said, "If the Indian businessmen come forward to set up such zones in Bangladesh, the present government will extend all necessary cooperation."
In such special zoning, the present government would prefer labour-intensive industries as the government was strongly committed to removing unemployment problem from the country, she added.
Hasina reaffirmed her government's stand on promoting public-private partnership (PPP) for rapid and sustainable development.
Regarding open markets, the Prime Minister said all windows to trade and business should remain open, but, at the same time, greater interest of the people would have to be protected.
The Prime Minister also emphasised sharing experiences among the South Asian countries in the fields of economy, trade, business and investment for the good of the people.
About the existing bilateral friendly relations between Bangladesh and India, Hasina said in case of the bilateral problems, these could be solved through discussion.
She welcomed the Indian business delegation to Bangladesh and recalled the historic role of India during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.
Singling out poverty as the main enemy of the South Asian nations, Hasina said Bangladesh and its all neighbouring countries, including India at the next door, should work together to expand trade and business for balanced development of the region through eradicating poverty.
"We have resources. Our people are also very much capable and industrious. If we can work unitedly, poverty will be eliminated as well as development of all the nations will be achieved," she told Indian businesses.
Among others, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Commerce Minister Faruq Khan, advisers to the Prime Minister Mashiur Rahman, HT Imam and Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury were present at the meeting.