Trans-border road communication
Thursday, 2 August 2007
WE are most likely to be a part of trans-border road communication network with a good number of Asian countries. With the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and Myanmar in connection with direct road link with Teknaf of Cox's Bazar district, the prospects for our being a part of such network, with benefits thereof, have become brighter.
Although we are yet to go a long way to be connected with the Asian highway, it was reported that with this road communication facility, we will have connectivity with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore via Myanmar.
Presently, we have good road communication with a number of places of India. Through this direct road link, the peoples of Bangladesh, India and Nepal have now a greater scope for increased social, economic and cultural interaction. But the benefits of this connectivity are still not being reaped to the desired level because of immigration-related hazards in the border, perceived threat of terrorism and also smuggling-related problems.
So it is necessary to focus on all such issues at the future office-level talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar in order to sort out the problems and also to ensure an airport-like smooth operational system. People, particularly those belonging to low and middle-income groups do feel themselves the need for hazard-free transportation facility to operationalise their tourism plans, as they cannot avail themselves of the expensive air route every now and then.
Rafit Rahim
Biyanibazar,
Sylhet.
Although we are yet to go a long way to be connected with the Asian highway, it was reported that with this road communication facility, we will have connectivity with Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore via Myanmar.
Presently, we have good road communication with a number of places of India. Through this direct road link, the peoples of Bangladesh, India and Nepal have now a greater scope for increased social, economic and cultural interaction. But the benefits of this connectivity are still not being reaped to the desired level because of immigration-related hazards in the border, perceived threat of terrorism and also smuggling-related problems.
So it is necessary to focus on all such issues at the future office-level talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar in order to sort out the problems and also to ensure an airport-like smooth operational system. People, particularly those belonging to low and middle-income groups do feel themselves the need for hazard-free transportation facility to operationalise their tourism plans, as they cannot avail themselves of the expensive air route every now and then.
Rafit Rahim
Biyanibazar,
Sylhet.