All set for deal on bus service

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Bangladesh next month, the transport ministers of the two countries are expected to finalise tomorrow the modalities of bus service between Dhaka and Guwahati via Shillong.

Modi is likely to flag off the bus service.

Bangladesh's Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Nitin Gadkari at the Parivahan Bhavan tomorrow, diplomatic sources said.

The trial run of the bus service on the 496-km route between Dhaka and Guwahati was completed in December last year.

Sources said the bus service would initially run twice a week and the frequency could be increased depending on the response.

Another key issue on the agenda of talks between Quader and Gadkari would be the bilateral motor vehicles agreement, which is expected to give a boost to bilateral trade, sources said.

The agreement will obviate the need for transhipment of goods at specified border points. It will enable the trucks of the two countries to move seamlessly into each other's territory, thereby reducing delay due to unloading and loading of goods at the checkpoints, they added. 

Quader and Gadkari are also expected to discuss a direct bus link between Kolkata and Agartala via Dhaka. At present, people seeking to travel from Agartala to Kolkata have to get off at Dhaka before boarding another bus for Kolkata.

India and Bangladesh started the first passenger bus service between Kolkata and Dhaka in June 1999.  The second bus service connecting Agartala and Dhaka began in 2002.