Call to make Chilahati a landport
Monday, 24 March 2008
Our correspondent
NILPHAMARI, Mar 23: The people of Nilphamari district have been demanding a landport at Chilahati and reopening of Chilahati-Haldibari (India) rail communication for long forty years.
Recently different trade bodies, the civil society and the implementation committee jointly placed a memorandum to Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, earnestly urging him to implement the same on an urgent basis.
The memorandum stated that the then Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari recommended it to the chairman of Bangladesh Land Port Authority on May 12, 2003 and the then chairman of Bangladesh Landport Authority Sharif Atiqur Rahman on May 27, 2003 in a letter to the secretary ministry of shipping also recommended to declared Chilahati as land port.
The memorandum also indicated that the Chilahati Land Customs office still existed although inoperative since September 6, 1965. It also said that the land port would connect Mongla Port with Nepal, Bhutan and north-east India's seven-sister states and also connect China through Nathula Land Port.
It further mentioned that Uttara EPZ would attract foreign investment from the aforesaid countries and create an economic corridor between Darjeeling and Parbatipur which would also help Saidpur Airport to turn into international airport.
The memorandum concluded that this land port would also foster tourism in the region.
NILPHAMARI, Mar 23: The people of Nilphamari district have been demanding a landport at Chilahati and reopening of Chilahati-Haldibari (India) rail communication for long forty years.
Recently different trade bodies, the civil society and the implementation committee jointly placed a memorandum to Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, earnestly urging him to implement the same on an urgent basis.
The memorandum stated that the then Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari recommended it to the chairman of Bangladesh Land Port Authority on May 12, 2003 and the then chairman of Bangladesh Landport Authority Sharif Atiqur Rahman on May 27, 2003 in a letter to the secretary ministry of shipping also recommended to declared Chilahati as land port.
The memorandum also indicated that the Chilahati Land Customs office still existed although inoperative since September 6, 1965. It also said that the land port would connect Mongla Port with Nepal, Bhutan and north-east India's seven-sister states and also connect China through Nathula Land Port.
It further mentioned that Uttara EPZ would attract foreign investment from the aforesaid countries and create an economic corridor between Darjeeling and Parbatipur which would also help Saidpur Airport to turn into international airport.
The memorandum concluded that this land port would also foster tourism in the region.