Agartala-Akhaura Rail link between India and Bangladesh expected to be completed by mid-2017

Agartala-Akhaura Rail link between India and Bangladesh expected to be completed by mid-2017

Agartala (AGTL): The 15km-long railway link between Agartala and Akhaura railway junction in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh is expected to be completed by mid-2017.

This will be accompanied by the construction of a bridge the cost of which will be borne by India across river Pheni to link up South Tripura district with Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. In addition, a bilateral agreement between the governments of India and Bangladesh will have to be signed to construct an all-weather link road between South Tripura and Chittagong port.

“I am sure this will happen sooner or later in view of the cordial relation between the two countries,” said Mohamed Obeidur Rahaman, outgoing first secretary and mission chief of Bangladesh visa office here.

Rahaman, who has had a distinguished service in the state for three years since 2012, handed over charge of the mission to Mohammed Manirujjaman yesterday but will leave Agartala on April 6.

He said the ongoing progress in India-Bangladesh bilateral relations had been dreamt and visualised by the father of the nation, assassinated President Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman. “As close neighbours with lot of cultural affinities both the countries should have the best of relations and things are moving in the right direction,” said Rahaman.

While acknowledging the “invaluable help” rendered by the government of India to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, he expressed special gratitude to the people of Tripura. “More than 15 lakh evacuees had come to Tripura for shelter to escape the atrocities of Pak occupation army at a time when the total population of Tripura was only 15 lakh. How can we forget this?” he said.

He said better linkages between India and Bangladesh would improve relations besides boosting economic relations between the two countries.