The Indian high commissioner in Dhaka has stressed on connectivity between the countries and suggested Bangladesh “to be as open as possible” to reap the benefits of the fast-changing world.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday said Bangladesh was placed in an “important” location between South Asia and Southeast Asia and that Dhaka should leverage the benefits of this geographical position.
“It is important for you to be as open as possible to reap the benefits of the fast-changing global economy,” he said at the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (MCCI) third quarterly luncheon meeting.
He spoke on bilateral relations, particularly on connectivity and bilateral trade, and said Indian exports to Bangladesh declined in the last two years while Bangladesh’s exports increased.
The two-way trade crossed $6 billion mark in 2015, though it is heavily tilted towards India.
Shringla said India’s “Act East policy begins in Bangladesh” and that Dhaka is an “integral part and pillar” of the policy.
Connectivity between the countries had “mushroomed” in recent years, he said.
“The focus is on creating multi-modal transport links and facilitating easy cross-border movement of goods and people.”
“Our railways were integrated during the British times and in fact until 1965. There is a renewed effort to revive the pre-1965 linkages and restore the connectivity, which had existed earlier,” he said, giving examples of recent connectivity initiatives.
Of the six rail links that exist between the two countries, three are operational and work on the Shahbazpur-Kulaurha, Birol-Radhikapur, Chilhati-Haldibarhi rail links is in progress, the envoy said.
Last year new bus services between Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati, and between Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala were launched. Kolkata-Khulna is in the pipeline.
Connectivity through coastal waterways and inland waterways are also of priority to both India and Bangladesh, he said.
MCCI President Syed Nasim Manzur also spoke at the meeting.
Source: Bd news24