Bangladeshi diplomat praises Tripura for infrastructure development

The development of infrastructure and better connectivity has enhanced Tripura's potential to attract major investments from Bangladesh and other countries, a Bangladeshi diplomat said Thursday.

Tripura is now in "take off" position for major investments from Bangladesh and other countries, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Tripura Md. Shakhawat Hussein told reporters here. Tripura is strategically positioned in the Northeast to become a major transit hub, he added.

He hoped that Feni bridge would come up soon from where Chittagong port could be accessed.

A bridge on the river Manu, near the Sabroom sub-divisional town in South Tripura district, is being constructed by the government of India to connect with Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

A 15 km long rail line is also being constructed by India for connecting Agartala with Akhaura, which would serve as a major connecting route with the nneighbouring country and the North East. The project is likely to be completed by the end of next year. Sakhawat said, Dhaka has already withdrawn port restrictions on 31 commodities with Tripura for better export-import.

The neighbouring country exports and also imports through six land customs stations in Tripura. A government report said, Bangladesh exports commodities of Rs 300 crore and imports only goods worth Rs 80 lakh. Bangladesh would organize Unnayan Mela in Tripura Guwahati, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi to showcase the achievements of the country, he said.

The mela would also showcase simplified systems for permissions in an environment, finance and other sectors, he added. He also stated that the policymakers in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries are considering easing Visa regimes for frequent movements in India, Bhutan and Nepal.

In the future, a Visa-free area in the lines of European Union may be created centring Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal etc, Hussein said.

Significantly, these four countries also comprise the proposed BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India) trade corridor, which is considered to have significant potential like the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).