First cargo consignment from Bangladesh reaches Tripura

On a trial basis, the first transit cargo from West Bengal’s capital Kolkata to Srimantapur land port in Sonamura subdivision under Sepahijala district of Tripura using Bangladesh sea port Mongal and land port Bibirbazar successfully reached here on Thursday.

The first consignment of goods consists of six tons of raw materials for making plastic goods products for Silchar in Assam shall open a transit route using water and land route via Bangladesh and is likely to not only reduce distance and time but also save transportation costs as waterways are the lowest across the globe.

The consignment was received during a simple program by Union Minister of State Pratima Bhowmik in presence of Tripura’s Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, local MLA Subash Chandra Das, Indian Assistant High Commission at Chittagong Rajeev Ranjan, Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner at Agartala Arif Mohammed and others.

Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for the development of multimodal connectivity under PM Gati Shakti, Union Minister Bhoumik said, “The PM has set the next 25 years as Amritkaal. This is the right time for development, this is the time for progress. All of us must work to develop our country as the number one country of the world”.

She also emphasized further improving Indo-Bangla relations and connectivity especially ports between the countries.

The MoS added that the Government of India has already allocated funds for developing the Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh.

“Development of NE India, especially development of Tripura, is impossible without developing Bangladesh”, Bhoumik said and urged both countries to work out a formula to expand the scope of exporting more items to Bangladesh through Tripura.

She also urged the representatives of Indian and Bangladesh envoys to urgently look into so that Tripura can export 50 locally produced items including rubber and tea through Bangladesh at present are not allowed from here.

Meantime, Minister Santana Chakma viewed that the new route will go long way in the development and improving connectivity and bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh.

Bilateral trade holds special significance for Tripura since the state is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides and shared 856 km-long-long international borders with the country.