Thrust on Rangpur-Kolkata rail connectivity

RANGPUR, Jan 7 (BSS): Assistant High Commissioner of India based in Rajshahi Dr Abhijeet Chattopadhyay said on Sunday that India is keen to expand bilateral trade and commerce with Bangladesh.

"The Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh are working together to further cementing the friendly relations between the two countries," he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting at the Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) auditorium in the city.

President of RCCI Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Tutu presided over the meeting attended by its members of the board of directors, industrialists, entrepreneurs, exporters and importers and business leaders.

The RCCI President recalled with deep respect the contribution of the Indian government as well as people of India to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

He called upon the Indian envoy to take initiatives to strengthen trade ties between the two countries and launch direct rail communications between Rangpur and Kolkata.

He hoped that the private sector joint investments would increase in the near future in the sub-Himalayan region as regional road connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) has started to become a reality.

Vice-president of RCCI Manjur Ahmed Azad, its Directors Habibur Rahman, Partho Bose, Motahar Hossain Mandal Mowla and member Swapna Rani Das also spoke.

The Indian envoy called upon the authorities of RCCI and local businesspersons to explore the prevailing prospects in both the countries through promoting business, trade and industries.