Regional cooperation
Mr Pranab Mukerjee, the finance minister of India, came to Bangladesh and watched the one billion dollar loan treaty between Bangladesh and Exim Bank of India. Out of this amount the development of Ashuganj internal port would be done for the transit and transhipment of Tripura with main parts of India. In exchange, the activities of the Banglabandha port would be eased by India so as to facilitate the carrying of commodities between Bangladesh and Nepal through Siliguri of India. It reminded me that thirteen years ago Banglabandha land port was opened. It was a sunny day on 1st September 1997. A helicopter was disembarked at the zero point from where the then Bangladesh Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr Tofael Ahmed, one of the Ministers of Nepal and some reporters of the leading dailies of Dhaka got down. Before that DC Panchagarh, Mr Saiful Islam, the ambassador of Nepal and the customs commissioner were present. Tens of thousands of people from the adjacent places thronged there.
It was decided that Nepal would use Mongla port for its import export activities through the newly opened Banglabandha Port. Bangladesh would be benefited as Mongla Port would be functioning from where levies, duties would be collected, the transport sector would be invigorated. India would be financially benefited as its route would be used and Nepal would be benefited also. After that we saw some thatched houses were built for customs operation but this port remained inoperative for many years as India did not allow use of his land fearing that terrorists of the seven sisters of the eastern part of India might take the opportunity for carrying arms and ammunition. However, India could now realise the necessity of operating this port for the benefit of the three countries. Regional cooperation is the need of the day. Only that cooperation can lead the subcontinent nations to eradicating poverty and insurgency.
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