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Ahead of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s proposed visit to Bangladesh next month, the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, today laid the foundation for a Rs 172-crore integrated checkpost along the border which would boost trade between the two countries.
“It will be a historic visit when five chief ministers of bordering states, including Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, will accompany him,” Mr Chidambaram, flanked by his Bangladeshi counterpart, Ms Sahara Khatun, said.
He said development of the modern checkpost and the Prime Minister’s visit would help strengthen ties between the two countries and augment trade volumes substantially.
Dr Singh would travel to Dhaka on September 6 when some agreements are expected to be signed.
Ms Khatun acknowledged India’s role in Bangladesh’s freedom movement, saying “Whenever we think of India, we recall Indira Gandhi’s contribution. The way the Indira Government helped us in the 1972 liberation struggle and the people of West Bengal cooperated, we will remember you forever.”
She said Ms Mamata Banerjee is a familiar name in Bangladesh “and she is loved by all”.
Mr Chidambaram said the integrated checkpost would be completed in 17 months.
The Government is building 13 integrated checkposts across the country’s borders, and of these seven are along the India-Bangladesh border, he said, adding that the Landport Authority of India, a statutory body, would manage these posts.
Mr Chidambaram said modern checkposts along the Bangladesh border are very essential for passengers and goods traffic.
“Today, lots of goods go from India to Bangladesh and lots come to India from Bangladesh.”
“India wants not just hilsa fish but more goods to come from Bangladesh,” he said.
“We also want thousands of people from India travel to Bangladesh on visa and thousands of people to come to India from Bangladesh on visa. All these require facilities to be created. There must be facilities for passengers, trucks, truck drivers, cargoes, for containers and that is precisely what we plan to do today,” he said.
Referring to the existing facilities at checkposts, Mr Chidambaram said, “We have hardly enough (infrastructure) to support (goods) traffic worth about Rs 10,000 crore. In the years ahead, Rs 10,000 crore worth traffic will multiply to Rs 20,000 crore, Rs 50,000 crore, Rs 100,000 crore. Therefore, we need to expand the facilities and that is precisely what we are doing.”
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